Italy allows large and medium-sized dogs to fly in cabin.Honey and Moka, a mixed-breed and a Labrador, on Tuesday became the first large dogs in Italy to travel in the cabin of a plane instead of in the hold.Italy's deputy premier and transport minister Matteo Salvini, a driving force behind the move to allow large dogs to fly in the cabin, travelled with the animals on board the so-called demonstration flight. Hailing it as a "game changer for millions of passengers", Salvini posted a picture on X of 11-year-old Moka relaxing on the ITA Airways flight from Milan to Rome. "Today the first flight with dogs weighing up to 25 kg on an ITA Airways plane" - Salvini wrote - "with the guarantee that everyone on board is comfortable and in total safety". Buongiorno amici. Questa è Moka, labrador di 11 anni. Oggi il primo volo con cani fino a 25 kg su un aereo Ita, da Milano a Roma, con la garanzia che a bordo tutti siano comodi e in totale sicurezza. Una battaglia di buonsenso, una svolta per milioni di passeggeri. Promessa… pic.twitter.com/jvRjb2XNtC— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) September 23, 2025 The move comes a few months after the transport ministry loosened the rules, with the approval of Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC, to allow large dogs to travel in the cabin with their owners, providing the animals are "adequately secured" during the flight. Honey and Moka travelled in their own dedicated spaces in the front and back rows, La Repubblica newspaper reports, and responded well to the flight. Moka travelled in Business Class, while Honey travelled in Economy. Both animals flew in the seat next to their owner, leashed and placed on a mat under the seat, on the window side. Moka fell asleep while Honey reportedly showed some concern upon landing. Passengers approached the dogs to pet them and take photographs. A beautiful day Also on board the aircraft was Michela Vittoria Brambilla, president of the parliamentary intergroup for animal rights and environmental protection, who paved the way for dogs to be allowed into Italy's senate buildings earlier this year. "Today is a beautiful day for those who love animals and don't want to be separated from them, even at high altitude" - Brambilla said - "In the cargo holds, where dogs weighing more than 10 kilos were previously confined, cases of acute stress, hypothermia, and, sadly, even death have occurred over the years". Honey and Moka, with their respective owners, after landing in Fiumicino airport. Photo ANSA.  "More than ten years ago, I was the one who signed the agreement with the Italian State Railways that opened train doors to pets" - Brambilla added - "Today, I am happy to board the first flight that offers pet owners a long-awaited service". Concerns Italian consumer group Codacons has raised concerns about the new regulations, claiming that the presence of dogs on aircraft could pose "significant problems" during flights.  "For example, the animal could start whining or barking uncontrollably, disturbing other passengers and compromising in-flight comfort", Codacons said, adding: "Absorbent mats placed on the seat also do not eliminate the problem of odours in the cabin if the animal were to relieve itself during the flight."  How will the new travel rules work? First of all, the flight with Moka and Honey was for "demonstration" purposes, with ITA Airways saying the goal was to prove that, by following the rules, dogs can travel in the cabin. According to what is being reported so far, ENAC guidelines oblige dogs to travel on the window side with their owner in the adjacent seat. Seats near emergency exits are prohibited. Other measures reportedly include a maximum number of pets per flight, while taking into consideration those with allergies or who don't wish to be seated near animals. Under the new travel rules, passengers would be notified when booking a flight whether or not there will be dogs on the plane, Italian media reported. Cultural revolution The demonstration flight on Tuesday places ITA Airways "at the forefront of European carriers", according to the company's president Sandro Pappalardo, who hailed the move as a "real cultural revolution that places respect, care, and inclusivity at its core". Moka on board the ITA Airways flight from Milan to Rome   Pappalardo added that ITA Airways will "continue to work to define the operating conditions necessary to gradually introduce the option" to purchase tickets for large and medium-sized dogs in the cabin", with the goal to "make travel a better experience for everyone, both people and animals." It remains to be seen to what degree airlines in Italy will embrace the new rules which will need to be worked out by politicians, together with consumer associations and, above all, by the airlines. ENAC president Pierluigi Di Palma said that allowing pets to fly alongside their owners, "recognising them as true members of the family", represents "a cultural shift" and is fully compliant "with the safety and well-being requirements of all passengers". Di Palma said he will present the ENAC guidelines at the general assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal on Wednesday, alongside Italy's deputy transport minister Edoardo Rixi and ITA Airway CEO Joerg Eberhart. The president of Rome airport authority Aeroporti di Roma (AdR), Vincenzo Nunziata, who welcomed Honey and Moka to Fiumicino, stated: "AdR is animal-friendly." "At Fiumicino Airport, we have four pet areas to make it easier for our furry friends to wait. Last May, we opened our Dog Relais, the first facility in Italy and among the very first in Europe within an airport dedicated to the stay and well-being of four-legged friends."

Honey and Moka, a mixed-breed and a Labrador, on Tuesday became the first large dogs in Italy to travel in the cabin of a plane instead of in the hold. Italy's deputy premier and transport minister Matteo Salvini, a driving force behind the move to allow large dogs to fly in the cabin, travelled with the animals on board the so-called demonstration flight. Hailing it as a "game changer for millions of passengers", Salvini posted a picture on X of 11-year-old Moka relaxing on the ITA Airways flight from Milan to Rome. "Today the first flight with dogs weighing up to 25 kg on an ITA Airways plane" - Salvini wrote - "with the guarantee that everyone on board is comfortable and in total safety". Buongiorno amici. Questa è Moka, labrador di 11 anni. Oggi il primo volo con cani fino a 25 kg su un aereo Ita, da Milano a Roma, con la garanzia che a bordo tutti siano comodi e in totale sicurezza. Una battaglia di buonsenso, una svolta per milioni di passeggeri. Promessa… — Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) The move comes a few months after the transport ministry loosened the rules, with the approval of Italy's civil aviation authority ENAC, to  with their owners, providing the animals are "adequately secured" during the flight. Honey and Moka travelled in their own dedicated spaces in the front and back rows, La Repubblica newspaper reports, and responded well to the flight. Moka travelled in Business Class, while Honey travelled in Economy. Both animals flew in the seat next to their owner, leashed and placed on a mat under the seat, on the window side. Moka fell asleep while Honey reportedly showed some concern upon landing. Passengers approached the dogs to pet them and take photographs. A beautiful day Also on board the aircraft was Michela Vittoria Brambilla, president of the parliamentary intergroup for animal rights and environmental protection, who paved the way for earlier this year. "Today is a beautiful day for those who love animals and don't want to be separated from them, even at high altitude" - Brambilla said - "In the cargo holds, where dogs weighing more than 10 kilos were previously confined, cases of acute stress, hypothermia, and, sadly, even death have occurred over the years".
Honey and Moka, with their respective owners, after landing in Fiumicino airport. Photo ANSA.  "More than ten years ago, I was the one who signed the agreement with the " - Brambilla added - "Today, I am happy to board the first flight that offers pet owners a long-awaited service". Concerns Italian consumer group Codacons has raised concerns about the new regulations, claiming that the presence of dogs on aircraft could pose "significant problems" during flights.  "For example, the animal could start whining or barking uncontrollably, disturbing other passengers and compromising in-flight comfort", Codacons said, adding: "Absorbent mats placed on the seat also do not eliminate the problem of odours in the cabin if the animal were to relieve itself during the flight."  How will the new travel rules work? First of all, the flight with Moka and Honey was for "demonstration" purposes, with ITA Airways saying the goal was to prove that, by following the rules, dogs can travel in the cabin. According to what is being reported so far, ENAC guidelines oblige dogs to travel on the window side with their owner in the adjacent seat. Seats near emergency exits are prohibited. Other measures reportedly include a maximum number of pets per flight, while taking into consideration those with allergies or who don't wish to be seated near animals. Under the new travel rules, passengers would be notified when booking a flight whether or not there will be dogs on the plane, Italian media reported. Cultural revolution The demonstration flight on Tuesday places ITA Airways "at the forefront of European carriers", according to the company's president Sandro Pappalardo, who hailed the move as a "real cultural revolution that places respect, care, and inclusivity at its core".
Moka on board the ITA Airways flight from Milan to Rome   Pappalardo added that ITA Airways will "continue to work to define the operating conditions necessary to gradually introduce the option" to purchase tickets for large and medium-sized dogs in the cabin", with the goal to "make travel a better experience for everyone, both people and animals." It remains to be seen to what degree airlines in Italy will embrace the new rules which will need to be worked out by politicians, together with consumer associations and, above all, by the airlines. ENAC president Pierluigi Di Palma said that allowing pets to fly alongside their owners, "recognising them as true members of the family", represents "a cultural shift" and is fully compliant "with the safety and well-being requirements of all passengers". Di Palma said he will present the ENAC guidelines at the general assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal on Wednesday, alongside Italy's deputy transport minister Edoardo Rixi and ITA Airway CEO Joerg Eberhart. The president of Rome airport authority Aeroporti di Roma (AdR), Vincenzo Nunziata, who welcomed Honey and Moka to Fiumicino, stated: "AdR is animal-friendly." "At Fiumicino Airport, we have four pet areas to make it easier for our furry friends to wait. Last May, we  and among the very first in Europe within an airport dedicated to the stay and well-being of four-legged friends."