The Air Malta pet policy for 2024 includes various options for flying with dogs or cats in the cabin and hold as checked baggage or cargo. In all cases, cats and dogs must be at least 15 weeks old to travel with Air Malta. When flying with dogs and cats in either the cabin or cargo hold with Air Malta, pets must be able to move around within their carrier. Air Malta is one of the few airlines that transports pets in the cabin from the United Kingdom (UK). The price for flying your pet in an Air Malta cabin or cargo hold varies, depending on the route, method of travel and the size of your pet. Air Malta pet travel rules do not allow for cats and dogs on certain flights, or to specific international destinations. In addition, the Air Malta dog policy doesn’t accept certain breeds either in the cabin or cargo hold. From 2021, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are no longer recognised by Air Malta, and most other airlines. Only professionally trained Assistance and Service Animals are permitted. ESAs must travel under the standard Air Malta pet travel policy but Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) may travel on flights to and from the US. Oh, and if you’re taking a pet stroller on your hols for your pampered pooch, you’ll be happy to hear that Air Malta transports it for free! You can also check out Air Malta pet travel reviews before you book. And, remember to leave an Air Malta pet travel review if you’ve flown your cat or dog in the cabin or hold!
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Table of contents
- Does Air Malta allow Pets in the Cabin?
- Does Air Malta allow Pets in the Hold as Checked Baggage?
- Air Malta Pet Cargo
- Air Malta Snub Nosed Cat & Dog Breed Policy
- Air Malta Airlines Banned Dog Breeds
- Air Malta Policy for Assistance & Service Dogs
- Air Malta Policy for Emotional Support Animals & Psychiatric Service Dogs
- Pet Travel Documentation & Vaccines
- Excluded Pet Routes with Air Malta
- Are Pets Safe on Planes?
- Related Pages
| Dogs & Cats in the Cabin of the Plane | ✅ |
| Dogs & Cats flying as Checked In Baggage | ✅ |
| Pets flying in Cargo Hold | ✅ |
| Assistance Dogs in Cabin | ✅ |
| Psychiatric Service Dogs in Cabin | ✅ |
| Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in Cabin | ❌ |
Does Air Malta allow Pets in the Cabin?
Dogs and cats flying in the cabin are accepted by Air Malta in their travel bag, up to a combined weight of 10kg. In comparison to other EU based airlines, this is super generous. Only adult passengers can travel with a pet, and each passenger is allowed one pet travel carrier on an Air Malta flight. However, two pets of the same species may be carried in the one travel kennel, provided that they don’t exceed Air Malta’s size and weight restrictions.
The travel bag or kennel must meet the Air Malta specifications outlined in their pet travel policy, and you must use a soft carrier rather than a rigid crate. The dimensions of your airline pet travel bag can’t exceed L 40 cm x W 34 cm x H 20 cm for your cat or dog to fly in the cabin. On the flight, the travel bag will be stowed underneath the seat in front of you, you can’t remove your cat or dog during the flight for safety reasons. Air Malta permits two pets of the same species to be carried in the same travel bag, provided that size and weight restrictions aren’t exceeded. On pet travel bag is permitted per passenger.
In addition, Air Malta requires that your pet is seen by a vet within three days prior to departure, and that this is recorded in the Clinical Examinations section of your pet’s passport.
You can book your cat or dog’s place on the plane at the same time as making your own Air Malta online reservation, or by calling their contact centre at a later date, but at least 5 days before your flight.
Due to high temperatures and stress, snub-nosed animals such as Boxer Dogs and Pekinese and Persian Cats can have trouble breathing during the flight. To ensure their well-being, most snub-nosed animals may not be transported in the hold. However, they are permitted to fly in the cabin.
IATA Regulations for Cats & Dogs Flying in the Cabin
While you need to ensure that your pet’s travel crate meets the maximum dimensions set by Air Malta to fly in the cabin, remember that you must also adhere to the Live Animal Regulations (LAR) set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This includes calculating the minimum inner crate dimensions allowed by the IATA LAR for your cat or dog to fly in the cabin. In addition, the airline pet travel carrier must adhere to the IATA LAR, in terms of ventilation, design etc.
If you’re new to pet travel, check out 8 IATA Compliant Airline Pet in Cabin Carriers.
Air Malta Pet in Cabin Price
Air Malta charges €70 per pet carrier, per flight or 7000 air miles. Pet strollers are carrier free of charge.
Does Air Malta allow Pets in the Hold as Checked Baggage?
If your cat or dog weighs more than 10kg, they must travel in the hold in accordance with the Air Malta international pet travel policy. The accepted species of animals allowed in the hold as checked baggage is also extended to:
- birds
- ferrets
- hares
- rabbits
Each passenger can take two pet travel kennels to be transported by Air Malta in the hold, and each travel crate can hold two pets of the same species. For seed eating birds, one cage may hold 10 birds. However, it’s important to ensure your pet has enough space during the flight, for their comfort, wellbeing and safety.
Air Malta permits pet travel crates in the hold with a volumetric weight of up to 60 kg, and a maximum crate height of 100 cm. To measure the volumetric weight, use the following formula:
L x B x H (cm) / 6000
For birds, the volumetric weight of the cage must not exceed 10 kg.
To travel with a pet as checked-baggage in the hold, Air Malta requires the completion of a request form at least five days prior to travel.
IATA Requirements for Pets Flying in Hold
For the safety of your pet during air transport, the airline travel kennel must meet the legal requirements of the Live Animal Regulations (LAR) set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Therefore, in addition to ensuring that your cat or dog in their travel crate adheres to the maximum weight and dimensions set by Air Malta, the minimum inner kennel dimensions defined by the IATA LAR must also be met.
You can calculate the minimum inner space permitted by the IATA LAR, in addition to learning about the required construction, design etc for the pet in hold travel crate.
Should you need a new travel kennel, check out 4 Popular IATA Compliant Pet in Hold Crates.
Air Malta Pet in Hold Price
In the case of birds, one cage weighing up to 10kgs, with a maximum of 10 birds is charged at €70 per flight.
Please note that pets don’t constitute part of the free baggage allowance and are charged for the full weight of the pet and container irrespective of the applicable baggage entitlement. The fee payable to Air Malta for pets flying in the hold is calculated based on the weight of your pet within their travel crate. To obtain a personalised quotation, you must complete the above request form and submit it to Air Malta.
Air Malta Pet Cargo
In some cases, your pet may have to fly as cargo, rather than as checked baggage. For instance, if you’re travelling on a different flight as your pet, or flying to a country that doesn’t permit pets to arrive in the cabin or as checked baggage. Your dog will also have to travel as cargo with Air Malta Cargo Reservations if the volumetric weight of their travel carrier exceeds 60kg. In addition, if you’re taking your pet to the UK with Air Malta, they will have to travel as cargo due to local government legislation.
To transport your pet as cargo, you will need to contact Air Malta Cargo Reservations. Prices vary and a quotation will be provided on request. Be aware that pets flying as cargo is more expensive than when they’re transported in the hold as checked baggage.
Air Malta Snub Nosed Cat & Dog Breed Policy
Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) animals, such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Persian Cats, can have trouble breathing during the flight, due to high temperatures and stress. To ensure their well-being, most snub-nosed (brachycephalic) animals may not be transported in the hold. This means that these pets can only fly in the Air Malta cabin, they aren’t allowed to travel as checked baggage in the hold of the plane.
When flying with a snub-nosed pet in the cabin, remember that you need to add 10% to your IATA compliant pet carrier calculation.
Air Malta Airlines Banned Dog Breeds
While Air Malta doesn’t have a list of potentially dangerous dogs, this very much depends on your chosen destination. For example, the following breeds, classed as potentially dangerous dogs, are prohibited from entering France due to laws regarding Category 1 and Category 2 dog breeds:
- American Staffordshire Terriers
- Boerboel Mastiffs
- Pit Bull
- Rottweiler
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Tosas
Therefore, always check the pet travel policy for your destination country, as well as your selected airline.
Air Malta Policy for Assistance & Service Dogs
You may travel with your Assistance or Service Dog in the cabin free of charge with Air Malta. It’s recommended that you make the request during booking and no less than 48 hours before your departure. But try to make the reservation as far in advance as possible.
Your Assistance or Service Dog must be fully trained and accredited, and their original documentation has to be provided at check in. Your Dog must also wear their identifying harness and vest.
Air Malta Policy for Emotional Support Animals & Psychiatric Service Dogs
Air Malta no longer accepts Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) for travel. Only registered and professionally trained Assistance & Service Dogs are accepted to travel in the cabin free of charge. Note that trained Psychiatric Service Dogs are classified as Assistance or Service Dogs, and they can travel under the Air Malta Assistance Dog policy on flights to and from the USA only. Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSVDs) differ from ESAs, as they have been trained to perform a specific task, or tasks, for their owner.
All pets other than Assistance & Service Dogs, including Emotional Support Animals, must adhere to the standard Air Malta pet policy, and comply with the size, weight and breed restrictions.
Pet Travel Documentation & Vaccines
Air Malta is a Maltese international pet friendly airline, so for flights within the EU, your cat or dog has to meet the EU Pet Travel Scheme criteria. This means that you’ll need to arrange either a Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate, and ensure that your cat or dog is microchipped and vaccinated against Rabies.
Excluded Pet Routes with Air Malta
Due to government pet travel rules, you can’t fly your cat or dog in the cabin to certain countries. These rules are in place in some pet friendly destinations that are currently rabies free, in order to protect their borders. For example, when flying to the UK (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland), all pets arriving on a plane must travel as cargo in the hold.
Air Malta doesn’t fly cats or dogs in the cabin or as checked baggage on flights to the United Kingdom (UK). When flying from the UK, pets can travel in the cabin or as checked baggage from London Heathrow Airport only. Pets departing from all other UK airports must fly as cargo.
In addition, pets aren’t accepted for transit through Malta on connections.
Are Pets Safe on Planes?
If you’re worried about your furry travel companion’s wellbeing when flying, check out our comprehensive post regarding pet safety on planes. While in the USA, a monthly report is provided for airline pet incident rates, there isn’t an equivalent in Europe at the moment. So, there’s no data available for incidents when flying pets in the hold with Air Malta. Note that even the airline pet incident reports submitted in the USA are only for cats and dogs flying in the hold, and don’t include any in cabin events.
No doubt, at some point your trip will involve a car ride, so have a look at our 12 Essential Pet Car Safety Tips too. Should your cat or dog suffer from motion sickness, we’ve also compared some of the treatments, strategies and medications for pet travel nausea.
It’s important to be aware that you can’t sedate or tranquilize your cat or dog for their flight, whether your pet, or pets, are travelling in the Air Malta cabin or hold.
In addition, to protect your pet’s health and wellbeing in a new country, be sure to keep your cat or dog safe from vector-borne diseases. In particular, Heartworm from mosquitoes and Leishmaniasis from sandflies in Southern European destinations pose a serious threat.
You might also want to check out 10 Pet Friendly Airlines in the EU and Pets in Cabin from the UK and 7 Transatlantic Pet Friendly Airlines.
And don’t forget the all important Essential Pet Travel Accessories!
Prior to booking, always view the Air Malta pet travel policy on their website for any recent changes. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, some airlines are frequently amending their rules for pets on planes.
Have a safe and wonderful trip, and remember to leave a review for your Air Malta if you fly your pet cat or dog, in the cabin or hold!
