Icelandair stops transporting pets via passenger flights, alarming dog owners in Iceland

Icelandair has announced that it will stop transporting pets via passenger flights starting November 1. This decision has caused significant distress among dog owners, according to the chairperson of the Icelandic Dog Breeders’ Association, as the majority of dogs are typically transported to Iceland using the carrier.

Erna Sigríður Ómarsdóttir, chair of the association, met with Icelandair officials recently and expressed that the decision is a setback affecting a large segment of the population, including dog breeders and families relocating back to Iceland with their pets. “It is already challenging to import dogs, and losing our primary airline is a tremendous blow. Currently, about 80 to 90 percent of dogs are flown to Iceland with Icelandair, making this a substantial impact,” Erna stated.

Starting next week, the only way to transport dogs will be through Icelandair’s cargo planes from New York and Liege in Belgium, where the volume of dog imports is notably low. Most dog imports come from Nordic countries and Germany, with many dogs from Eastern Europe transiting through these regions. Icelandair opted not to invest in the complex equipment required to transport animals in the cabin of passenger flights due to high costs and weight considerations.

Earlier this year, restrictions were already placed on pet transport, banning dogs weighing under eight kilograms from the cabin. “Removing this option is a significant drawback, and this latest decision is a major setback for pet owners, further complicating an already difficult import process,” Erna emphasized.