Pet travel: Joanna didn’t want to fly her dogs in cargo – so she started a company to fly pets in private planes

When Joanna and Liam Maddison were considering returning to the UK from Australia they knew they didn’t want to fly their three huskies by cargo.

But despite doing extensive research, it was the only option.

So in 2021, they started their own company for pet owners who didn’t want to put their treasured animals through the ordeal when relocating.

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“Nothing like this actually existed,” Joanna, from Perth, tells 9Travel.

Skye Pets’ first flight took off in 2023, with the couple giving up their jobs in mining to run the company – and deciding to stay in Australia.

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They now fly cats and dogs and their owners between Australia, Singapore, Dubai and the UK, with US flights starting soon.

Joanna said passengers are “just grateful” not to have to wave goodbye to their beloved animals for long journeys. And some dog breeds are also not allowed to fly cargo.

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They began with chartered Gulfstream jets and now have started using an Airbus A319.

Quarantine rules still exist, with Australian flights landing in Melbourne where the only processing facility is. There are also pet checks done on landing in other countries.

Surprisingly, she said all their flights have been “uneventful”.

“During take off and landing all of the pets have to stay in their crates but outside of those times they can come out and just be with their owner,” Joanna says.

“The dogs have to be on a lead.

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“It does take a little bit of coaxing for them to go to the toilet, we find the real grass patch helps and we provide puppy pads.

“Cats stay in their carrier, and can have a kitty litter tray and they can also take them out to the toilet area. If any accidents happen we just simply clean it up.

“It’s actually amazing how quiet they all are.”

Of course, the privilege doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting around $34,000 for one passenger and a medium-sized dog to get to the UK.

Suzie MacDougall flew her two dogs with the company when she moved from Singapore to Melbourne.

She took Stella, 10, a schnug and schnoodle Spartacus, nine, on the Skye Pets plane and said she “would not travel any other way” with them.

“The fur kids were able to walk around and stretch their legs on the flight, and as it was a night flight they slept most of it comfortable on their beds right next to me,” she tells 9Travel.

“It was so lovely having them by my side knowing that they were safe and comfortable.”

While Skye Pets said it’s the only company which charters entire jets to fly pets internationally, Virgin Australia is due to start a domestic service.

Meanwhile, at least one airline now allows pets to fly in the cabin internationally out of Australia.

Korean Air allows some pets on planes.