Canada’s WestJet expands pet transport service to the UK
27 / 08 / 2024
© 2019 Chad Slattery. Source: WestJet Cargo
WestJet Cargo has expanded its pet transportation services from Canada to London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR) and Edinburgh (EDI).
This expansion, using belly capacity, comes in response to the growing demand for secure and reliable international pet travel between Canada and Europe, said the Canadian airline.
The carrier operates flights between Canada and Europe using its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
“At WestJet Cargo, we recognise that pets are beloved members of the family, and their safety and comfort during travel are our utmost priorities,” said Kirsten de Bruijn, executive vice president of WestJet Cargo.
“By extending our pet transportation service to LGW, LHR, and EDI, we are enhancing connectivity for pet owners and ensuring that their pets receive the highest standard of care throughout their journey.”
In addition to the new routes, WestJet Cargo started operating year-round pet transportation services to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) earlier this year.
The airline also plans to use its passenger network to further expand its pet transportation services across Europe.
However, it confirmed that while the Paris and London Heathrow routes are proposed year-round for pets, the routes to Edinburgh and Gatwick will pause later this year as they are part of the summer schedule.
WestJet Cargo’s pet transportation service is tailored to meet the specific needs of all pets, including brachycephalic breeds, which require special attention during air travel.
The airline adheres to IATA’s Live Animals Regulations and all pet transport occurs in pressurised, temperature-controlled cargo holds.
The service is designed to comply with European regulations, accommodating the specific requirements of international pet travel.
WestJet Cargo recently confirmed it had parked two of its four leased 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) in response to tough market conditions.
