Travelling with Pets

Pets in Passenger Cabin

Get to know our policy about travelling with your Pet in the Passenger Cabin (PETC).

HOW TO BOOK:

Book your pet in cabin (dog or cat) when purchasing your flight on our website. If your flight is booked through other channels or if you already have a ticket and you want your travel buddy to join you on your flight, contact our Customer Support on +356 2135 6000.

A fee of €70 per way per carrier will be charged. Fee is non-refundable.

Passengers with pets must visit the check-in desks at the departure airport for checks by our staff, even if online check-in is done.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

Find more important details about our pet in cabin (Non-Commercial Movement) policies below:

• PETC is available for small dogs or cats only
• It's important to note that pets, including the carrier, can weigh up to 10KG in total
• Pets must be at least fifteen weeks old and weaned for five days
• This service is not allowed for flights from Malta into the UK and London Gatwick to Malta. Service is allowed when departing from London Heathrow into Malta only
• Acceptable containers must meet safety standards
• Container dimensions: 40cm (L) x 34cm (W) x 18cm (H). The container must be a collapsible, soft case bag
• Up to two animals of the same species can be in the same container
• Veterinarian examination within 72 hours before the scheduled flight
• Only adults may carry a pet in the cabin with only one container per adult passenger permitted
• The container must fit under the seat without blocking passage and stay stowed during the entire flight
• For safety, passengers with pets cannot sit in over-wing, main exit (Row 1), or restricted seats, and will be allocated a window seat.

Note: PETC passengers in Business Class with only one available row (Row 1) will be moved to an Economy seat, and partial reimbursement may be requested by contacting our Customer Support.

If your dog or cat is over the allowed size and weight limit, your pet may be eligible to travel as a Pet as Accompanied Checked-in Baggage. 

PETC are restricted to 5 per flight.

Pets as Accompanied Checked-in Baggage

Get to know our policy about travelling with your pet as Accompanied Checked-in Baggage (AVIH).

It's important that you register your pet's booking at least 5 working days before the flight to secure space and make sure they are not refused at the airport.

Download and print the AVIH Form and fill in the details. Email your request together with the form and a copy of your pet/s’ passport or a valid health certificate to [email protected]. 

Our agents will confirm the booking via email, which you must present during check-in at your departure airport. Further details about our AVIH airport process below.

FEES:

An Admin Fee of €10 will be charged for AVIH services. Additionally, depending on the weight of your pet (including the container) a fee will be charged:

• Small AVIH: Dogs and cats weighing between 1-10KG will be charged at €70 per way per container
• Medium AVIH: Dogs and cats weighing between 11-20KG will be charged at €100 per way per container
• Large AVIH: Dogs and cats weighing between 21-32KG will be charged at €150 per way per container

The above fees are non-refundable.

Please note that pets do not constitute part of your baggage allowance and are charged for the full weight of the pet and container irrespective of the applicable baggage entitlement.

AT THE AIRPORT:

Departure Airport:

• Make sure to check-in at least 2 hours before your scheduled departure time
• Keep the necessary documentation, certificates, and AVIH booking reference document handy
• Hand over your pet in a suitable container during check-in
• Accompany your pet through the bulky luggage handling area - our dedicated staff will ensure the safety and comfort of your pet and take over from here

Arrival Airport:

• On arrival, collect your pet along with your baggage from the arrivals hall unless the airport offer different delivery services (check with your desination airport)
• Be prepared to provide necessary documentation to the Customs Department if and when requested.

ACCEPTABLE CONTAINERS:

Your pet should be carried in an appropriate container/carrier that meets the minimum standard for size, ventilation, strength, sanitation, design for safehandling and must have a waterproof (leak proof) bottom. The container must ensure that the animal has enough space to stand and sit upright, to turn around normally while standing, and to lie in a natural position.

AVIH crate type and size allowance must be according to the IATA regulations (LAR): The maximum height of the crate must not exceed 100cm. AVIH crate sizes allowed must have a volumetric weight of up to 60KGs. To measure the volumetric weight, use the following formula: LxBxH(cm)/6000

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

Find more important details about our AVIH policies below:

• AVIH available for larger dogs and cats only, which hold a pet passport or relevant documentation in English
• Two pets of the same species are allowed in the same container. However, only one container may be carried per passenger
• This service is not allowed for flights from Malta into the UK. Service is allowed only when departing from London Heathrow into Malta only
• Failure to produce the required documentation and sized crates at check-in may result in offloading your AVIH. KM Malta Airlines cannot be held liable for refunds of passenger tickets in such cases
• Pet bookings are non-refundable except in case of airline flight cancellations

If your pet doesn't qualify for AVIH, cargo options may be available.

Pets as Cargo

In situations where we cannot accommodate your pet either as Pet in Cabin (PETC) or as Accompanied Baggage (AVIH), you have the option of booking your pet in the aircraft hold as Cargo. In that case please get in touch with our Cargo department or your cargo agent and they will guide you through the process.

It is important to note that you will have to drop off/pick-up your pet at/from the Station Cargo centre which is normally located in a separate building from the Airport terminal and not within walking distance.

Please contact our Cargo Reservations Department for further details on fees:

• For outound (out of Malta) flights: [email protected]
• For inbound (into Malta) flights: [email protected]

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:

• All allowable pets can be sent as cargo.
• Crate sizes exceeding volumetric weight of 60KGs are permissible. To measure the volumetric weight, use the following formula: LxBxH(cm)/6000.
• Maximum crate height size up to 110cm.

All you need to know about pet travel

Passengers will be limited, in terms of the number and weight of animals, by IATA regulations. Those passengers wishing to travel with pets may do so subject to the following requirements, requirements vary based on the journey's origin and destination:

FROM MALTA:

Malta to any EU Country incl. Switzerland:

• Check-in dogs and cats as accompanied checked-in baggage.

Malta to the UK:

• Pets must be booked as cargo; PETC and AVIH services are not available on these routes.

Malta to a non-EU country (except Libya or countries with local restrictions):

• Check-in dogs and cats as accompanied checked-in baggage.

TO MALTA:

Any EU Country (except the UK) to Malta:

• Check-in animals as excess baggage.

UK to Malta:

• Allowed cats and dogs as PETC and AVIH from London Heathrow only; other pets must be booked as cargo.

Non-EU country to Malta:

• If entry requirements are not met, animals could be quarantined. Please refer to the Malta government website for updates here.

Pets are not allowed to transit through Malta.

Pets as cargo are only accepted on KM Malta Airlines point-to-point destinations.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:

A licensed veterinarian should examine the pet prior to travel and issue a certificate or stamp the pet passport which certifies that the animal is in good health, harmless, inoffensive, and odourless.

When bringing pets to Malta, an appointment must be made with the Agriculture and Fisheries Regulation Division on phone number +356 2292 5216/5172 (for animals arriving from EU) or +356 21653013/0393 (for animals arriving from outside EU) during office hours (Monday to Friday 07:00 - 15:00) or the VSO Veterinary Support Officer on mobile number +356 99170532 (24 hour) or by email [email protected] advising flight number, date and time of arrival, for inspection prior to the release of pet. Any related forms requested, may be accessed from the website for Fish and Farming Regulation and Control here.

If you’re travelling to another destination, please make sure you are familiar with the pet import rules of the country.

KM Malta Airlines will not be held responsible if any pet or animal is refused entry in a specific country. 

REFUNDS AND CHANGES:

Fees are non-refundable. If for any reason we cannot accommodate your pet on your selected flight or date, we will refund or change your ticket at no extra cost. 

OTHER GENERAL CONDITIONS:

• If your itinerary involves travel on airlines other than KM Malta Airlines, even in the case of codeshare flights, you must contact the other airline to confirm you are allowed to carry your pet
• Customers travelling with dogs and cats as PETC or AVIH should check-in at the airport, not online. Please report at the check-in counter at least two hours prior to the scheduled time of departure of your flight.
• Guide dogs are accepted in the passenger cabin and travel free of charge. More details are available here.
• From time to time due to high loads, flights might be embargoed and we will be unable to accept pets to travel. You will be updated of such embargoes at the time of your booking.

For more information about travelling with your pet, visit the following websites:

• To/from/within the European Union: European Commission regulations
• To/from/within the United Kingdom: UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• To/from/within other countries: IATA