FLY THE DOG-FRIENDLY SKIES
Private aviation is transforming pet travel

Ah, the perks of private aviatioin.  No standing in line at security.  Large, leather seats in which to relax.  A satisfying meal you can enhoy while gazing at the clouds, your four-legged companion snoozing at your feet.  These days, more and more people are using private jets for their air-travel needs, and they're taking their four-legged children with them. "Private aviation is growin at a rate of more than 20 percent per annum, and animal travel is growing with it," says Cary Cimino, chief marketing officer for Luxury Air Jets, which attributes 20 percent of its business to pet travel.  "There is a new generation of pets who have never experienced anything but private aviation."

Indeed, NetJets, a company that specializes in fractional jet ownership, says it flew 20 percent more pets in 2006 than it did in 2005, for a total of 8,076 flights and 11,655 pets last year.  Experts say that while pet travel is just one reason consumers are turning to private aviation, it's still a key part of the explanation for why the industry is booming.  "I have some customers who say they would never fly private if it weren't for their dogs," says Todd Rome, president of Blue Star Jets, which reports that 10 percent of its business is driven by pet travel.  "Now that there are more jet options out there, our clients don't want to bring their pets on commercial airlines anymroe."

It's a sentiment shared by many pet owners, who are alarmed by the number of pet losses, injuries and deaths outlined in the government's Air Travel Consumer Reports.  The government recently began including commercial-flight pet statistics in the reports, thanks to regulations imposed by the Safe Air Travel for Animals Act.  "More and more peeople are frustrated with commercial airlines in general, and the trust factor has reallyl decreased over the last 10 years," says Greg Johnson of OneSky Jets, which says 5 to 10 prcent of its leisure business is pet travel.    "Some people will either drive or fly privately before they'll put their pet on a commercial airline.  They recognize that thos airlines really arent' in the pet business."

CONTINUE >