Bengaluru has become the largest hub for pet travel with Akasa Air, making up over 30% of all pet journeys for the airline. Since the launch of the “Pets on Akasa” service, more than 3,700 pet journeys have started from the city, with a notable 53% increase in demand from FY24 to FY26. Pet journeys from Bengaluru rose from 856 in FY24 to 1,310 in FY26.
The airline’s data shows that Bengaluru-Delhi, Bengaluru-Kolkata, and Bengaluru-Guwahati are among the top routes for pet travel, together constituting over 55% of such flights. The range of destinations for pet travel has also expanded from 10 to 16, now including places like Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Varanasi.
Akasa Air has flown more than 13,500 pets under this program and has made customer-driven changes, including allowing up to three pets per flight and increasing the in-cabin weight limit to 10 kg. They offer complimentary services like window seat bookings and priority boarding, ensuring their teams are trained specifically for pet travel.
The airline has also partnered with the Umeed for Animals Foundation to further enhance pet comfort and safety. The “Pets on Akasa” service was initiated on November 1, 2022, allowing pets to travel in the cabin or cargo based on their weight, reflecting changing travel preferences among pet owners.
