Canadian Transport Agency Studies Ban On Pets In Airline Cabins

November 5, 2009 6:11 p.m. EST

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - Air Canada and WestJet may have to reverse its newly reinstated policies permitting pets to travel with their owners in the same air cabin. The Canadian Transportation Agency is studying the possibility of banning pets on board the same cabin as humans because of allergies some passengers have to dog and cat hair.

The CTA is investigating four complaints against the two largest Canadian air carriers in special parliamentary hearings into the pet policies of Air Canada and WestJet. Air Canada allowed once again a limited number of pets to travel with their owners in the same cabin beginning July 1, 2009. The same policy applies on its subsidiary Jazz Air.

When it reinstated the policy middle of this year, Air Canada acknowledged some passengers may suffer from allergies and advised them to inform the company beforehand of their health condition to ensure they will not be seated next to a pet and its owner.

The CTA even got the service of an allergy specialist to make a report on pet allergies which will help the agency come up with a decision soon on the issue. Previously, medical experts from the Universities of British Columbia and Ottawa told the parliamentary hearing WestJet and Air Canada are risking passenger lives with their pet-on-board policies.