In our airline, dogs, cats and roosters can travel in the hold of the plane, complying with the necessary documentation and regulations for their transportation. This service must be requested at least 48 hours before the departure of your flight. Find more details below.
Your emotional support dog can travel with you in the cabin:
- If it has a maximum weight of 10kg.
- If you transport it only in flexible containers (crates), as long as they can be placed under the chair in front of you on the plane.
*Container measures: Length 41cm, Width 28cm and Height 20cm.
Your dog must remain inside the container during the flight, at all times.
If your emotional support dog weighs more than 10kg it will travel in the hold, free of charge, as of this date (February 1, 2023).
You must book your pet's travel at least 48 hours before your flight.
Discover the available channels for booking the service
*The carriage of pets is subject to availability, with a maximum limit of 6 pets in the cabin per flight (regardless of whether they are emotional support or pets), in compliance with the legal provisions in force. The limitation of the number of pets in the hold will depend on the type of aircraft.
- Did you buy a ticket before February 1, 2023?
*If you booked the transportation of your emotional support pet prior to February 1, 2023, for travel thereafter, the cabin transportation conditions in effect at the time of your purchase will be maintained.
Learn more here.
Important!
In addition to the documents required to travel with your pet, you must present the form for transporting pets in the hold and cabin. Download it here and present it printed at the airport or ask our service agents at the counter.
To bear in mind:
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Although the airline accepts the transport of dogs of dangerous breeds, it is important that you are aware of the regulations of the country you are traveling to, as each country may have additional requirements or restrict the entry of your pet. Permitted breeds
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Breeds not permitted
Please note: If during the booking process you state that your dog or cat does not have brachiocephalic syndrome despite belonging to these breeds, you must present a certificate signed by a veterinarian confirming this condition. In addition, you must sign the form FR-NE0501-11 Form for transport of Live Animals in Hold (Pet) at the airport in order for your pet to be accepted on the flight. |
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| Flights | Sales offices, contact center and travel agencies |
|---|---|
|
Within Colombia |
From COP 220.000 |
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Inside Ecuador |
From USD 60 |
|
America |
From USD 210 |
|
To Europa |
From USD 215 |
|
From Europa |
From EUR 190 From GBP 160 |
Rates are valid as of March 15, 2022. The rates listed in the table include taxes.
For high season these rates may increase up to USD 20 in sales offices, contact center, and travel agencies. High season months are January, November, and December.
For aircrafts with ventilated cargo hold, 322S family.
| Flight time |
Maximum weight of each pet (NOT including the weight of the container) |
Number of pets per team in that hold |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | 50 Kg | Max 15 |
For aircraft with non-ventilated hold, 322S family.
| Flight time |
Maximum weight of each pet (NOT including the weight of the container) |
Number of pets per team in that hold |
|---|---|---|
| Less than or equal to 4 hours | 30 Kg | (2 per winery) |
| 4 to 5 hours | 20 Kg | (2 per winery) |
| Domestic Flights | 50 Kg | Max 15 |
- For international trips, the requirements may vary depending on the country, such as: Health Inspection Certificate, health certificate of the animal issued by a veterinarian which includes the breed, gender, and age of the animal, and the original of the current vaccination card according to age and species. You must also present the pet for inspection. The validity of the Health Inspection Certificate depends on the authority of each country.
- On the Airbus A330 or Boeing 787, no matter how long your flight lasts, your pet can weigh up to 50 kilograms. This weight does not include the weight of the container.
- For the transportation of your emotional support dog you must book this service only through the Contact Center, at least 48 hours before the departure of the flight.
- The airport animal health authorities and Avianca reserve the right to refuse admission or transport of the pet, if it is considered that it does not meet the regulatory and safety conditions suitable for travel.
- Exotic birds, protected or endangered species, are not accepted for carriage as baggage either in the cabin or in the hold.
- To travel with your pet you must present a photocopy of its vaccination card, its health inspection certificate, issued by a veterinarian, indicating the professional registration number. The time of validity of this document depends on the country. You may have to comply with other conditions if the regulations of the country of connection or destination require it. Remember to check with the competent authority of the country of connection or destination, the conditions required for the transport of your pet.
- If you take more than one flight to reach your destination, and any of these flights are operated by an aircraft other than the Airbus A330 or Boeing B787, all flights will be subject to the restriction that the pet does not exceed 20 kilograms (not including the weight of the container) for flights of up to 4 hours, or 10 kilograms (not including the weight of the container).
- When traveling with your dog or cat to Colombia, you must have an original health certificate showing that your pet is fit to be transported. It must be valid for no more than 10 calendar days and must state that your pet is free of infectious, contagious and parasitic diseases. Likewise, it must be mentioned that there are no fresh or healing wounds. Also, you must specify the species, identification, breed, sex, age and coat of the animal, the vaccination plan and the vaccination certificate issued by a veterinarian indicating his professional registration number.
- Pets coming from the United States of America must arrive in Colombia accompanied by a health certificate stamped and signed by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA - APHIS, which is the official entity of Animal Health of the U.S.A.
- The reimbursement of your ticket does not apply if your pet does not have the required health and veterinary documentation or shows aggressive behavior.
- The pet transportation service applies to TACA International, Avianca Costa Rica, Avianca Peru, Avianca and Avianca Ecuador S.A. The service does not apply to bookings with partner airlines and/or codeshare airlines. It is important that you validate with the airline you are booking with, as policies may vary according to your origin or destination.
- Please note that the minimum age for transporting pets in some countries is over four months old. We invite you to learn more about this topic at IATA Travel Center.
Characteristics of the container:
- If your pet is longer than 35 centimeters, it must wear a muzzle; this does not apply if they are traveling in metal containers.
- It must be made of rigid materials such as fiberglass, metal, or plastic and must be supplied by the passenger.
- It should weigh a maximum of 10 kilograms and allow your pet to move freely.
- It must be clean and leak-proof.
- Water and food bowls must be empty, separate, and fixed to the container. There must be accessible from the outside to water the pet in case of an emergency or flight delay.
- The exterior and interior must not have parts that will hurt your pet, or anyone, or damage the airport infrastructure.
- Openings for ventilation should be small. If they are not, cover them with a mesh.
- The door can be sliding or hinged and have locking latches. The material can be plastic, wood, or metal.
- If the container has wheels, lock them. Doors should have safety latches that allow them to be opened without the need for special tools.
Restrictions:
- We do not transport pets in containers in poor condition (rusty mesh, inoperative hinges, or latches).
- If your dog is large or aggressive, it should travel in a wooden or metal container with 2 locks on each side of the door.
- Containers made entirely of welded mesh or wire mesh are not permitted.
If you are flying to Europe, please note the following information:
- In accordance with EU Regulation 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals, checks shall be carried out on all pet animals, whether traveling in the cabin or in the hold, at authorized Passenger Points of Entry for the introduction of pet animals, on disembarkation from aircraft, when the flight originates from a third country.
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For travel to Spain, the pet must have a passport (vaccination card or zoosanitary certificate) and be identified with a microchip or tattoo. It is important to treat the pet with praziquantel at least 48 hours before the flight.
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In Madrid and Barcelona, the Guardia Civil personnel are responsible for carrying out these controls, and in the event that the required documentation is not available or is not in order, the decision will be one of the following two:
- Re-dispatch the animal, which means returning the animal to its country of origin at the earliest possible flight.
- Quarantine of the animal, if the previous option is not possible.
- If your flight is from Spain to Colombia, you will have to present the Export Certificate of the Kingdom of Spain for any type of pet. This document will be required upon arrival in Colombia.
When traveling to the United States, please note the following restrictions on the entry of dogs:
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If you like to travel with your dog, please note that as of 14 July, dogs living in countries that are considered high risk for canine rabies or who have been in these countries in the previous 6 months are not allowed to enter the United States.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK).
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
- Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
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This restriction includes countries such as Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. The full list can be found here.
To enter the United States with your dog, you must meet a list of requirements, be part of the exception group, apply for and obtain an advance import permit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by sending an email to CDCanimalimports@cdc.gov at least 30 working days prior to the date of entry. Applications must be submitted by the owner or importer of the dog. If you do not comply with this requirement and arrive without written approval from the CDC issued in advance, your dog will be refused entry, returned to the country of origin, and you will be responsible for any costs incurred.
List of persons who can apply for an import permit for dogs if the dog lives or has been in a country considered as high risk in the last 6 months:
- U.S. government employees with permanent changes of location or temporary duty orders.
- U.S. citizens or legal residents who are relocated to the United States, for example, for employment or education purposes.
- Owners of service dogs that are specifically trained to assist the owner with a disability.
- Bonafide importers of dogs for scientific, educational, exhibition, or law enforcement purposes.
You can download the import permit application here. You can consult the instructions for filling it out here. In addition, you must comply with these requirements:
- Provide a valid rabies certificate.
- Your dog must be at least six months old.
- Your dog must be microchipped.
Permits are limited to three dogs per person (except for importers of dogs for scientific, educational, and exhibition purposes). Also, please note that all dogs traveling with a permit must enter the United States through an airport with a live animal care facility with a Facility Information and Resource Management System (FIRMS) code issued by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Currently, New York-JFK is the only airport that meets this requirement.
- The transport of live animals to the Galapagos Islands is not permitted.
- Please note that due to Animal Reception Centre restrictions, this service is not available for flights to the UK
- This service is not available for flights from - to Aruba and Curaçao. The only exception is in case of a definitive move to the island of Curaçao with the corresponding authorization of the authority.
