Can I fly with my pet?

We transport three types of pets:

• Pet: we accept dogs and cats older than 4 months of age.
• Emotional support dogs: you must present a medical certificate issued by a mental health professional proving your condition to fly with your pet.
• Service dogs: trained to help a person with a disability. They are trained in specialized and certified centers.

Check the conditions according to the characteristics of your pet. If you are flying with an emotional support dog or a service dog, you must comply with additional requirements. We only transport dogs, cats and roosters, and you must request this service at least 48 hours before the departure of your flight.

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 and present it printed at the airport or ask our service agents at the counter.

Pets up to 10 kg Pets up to 50 kg Roosters Types of breeds Weight allowed in the hold

• Dogs and cats weighing no more than 10 kg, including the weight of their container, may fly in the cabin.
• To guarantee the transportation of your pet, you must comply with all the requirements and documents required.
• Your pet may only fly in flexible containers (kennels), as long as they can be accommodated under the seat in front of you in the plane.
• The container must measure: 55x35x25 cm (length, width, and height), and your pet must remain inside the container during the flight at all times.
• The transportation of your pet is subject to availability of space.
• We do not transport pets (dogs or cats) that are less than 4 months old, due to the minimum waiting period after the rabies vaccination.
• Book this service more than 48 hours before flight departure, through our Contact Center, points of sale or travel agencies.
• Check the charges for this service.

• Dogs, cats and roosters can fly in the hold of the aircraft, as long as they comply with the necessary documentation and regulations.
• The maximum weight established for transporting pets in the hold is 50 kg, excluding the weight of the container.
• To guarantee the transport of your pet, you must comply with all the requirements and documents required.
• Your pet may only fly in containers (kennels) made of rigid materials such as fiberglass, metal or plastic and must be supplied by you.
• The transportation of your pet is subject to availability of space.
• We do not transport pets (dogs or cats) that are less than 4 months old, due to the minimum waiting period after the rabies vaccination.
• Book this service more than 48 hours before flight departure, through our Contact Center, points of sale or travel agencies.
• Check the charges for this service.

• Carry them in a container or crate which must be designed for this purpose (cardboard, wood or the most common in fabric).
• Present the bird's health certificate issued by a veterinary doctor.
• If the crate has several compartments, remember that only one bird per compartment may travel.
• Two crates per passenger are allowed.
• Regardless of the number of compartments in the crate, a passenger may only carry a maximum of 6 cocks.
• The weight of the birds must not exceed 20 kilograms (excluding the weight of the container).
• This service is charged per container.
• We do not transport live exotic birds, or protected or endangered species.

Although we transport dogs of special handling breeds (dangerous breeds), you must check the regulations of the country you are traveling to. Each country may have additional requirements or restrict the entry of your pet.

Allowed breeds

• We transport American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, De Presa Canario, Doberman, Dogo Argentino, Dogo de Bordeaux, Fila Brasilero, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pitbull Terrier, Rottweiler and Japanese Tosa.
• Dogs of these breeds can travel in a metal-walled container, with non-toxic materials that allow their feeding and hydration.
• It is necessary that your dog has a basket muzzle if traveling in a plastic container.
• In Colombia, according to article 108-E of chapter XIII of Law 746 of July 19, 2002, “the importation of canine specimens of the Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or canines resulting from crosses or hybrids of these breeds is prohibited”. If your pet was born in Colombia and you want to take it out of the country, you must obtain a permit for it to enter again. It is important to be informed about the measures required by the sanitary and governmental entities of the country of origin, transit, and destination.

Not allowed breeds

• We do not transport the following brachiocephalic breeds and crossbreeds of these breeds in the hold: Chinese Shar Pei, Boxer, Dogue de Bordeaux, Bulldog, English Bulldog, Belgian Griffon, Griffon Bruxellois, Petit Brabancon, Chin, Japanese Spaniel, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Tibetan Spaniel, Chinese Shar Pei, Boxer, Dogue de Bordeaux, Tibetan Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, King Charles Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, Pekingese, Pug and Doguillo.
• We do not carry the following brachiocephalic cat breeds and crossbreeds: Burmese, Persian, Exotic Shorthair and Himalayan.
• Animals that are aggressive, dangerous, or whose inappropriate behavior in a public environment generates safety or health risks, or is an obstacle to an eventual emergency evacuation on board, will not be allowed to be transported.

• For aircraft with ventilated hold 322S family, a maximum of 15 pets may be carried, and each pet must not exceed 50 kg in weight, not including the weight of the container.
• Pets cannot be transported in aircraft with non-ventilated hold.

Conditions and generalities

• Hygiene and health of the dog: If it is determined that the hygiene or health conditions of the dog jeopardize the health or safety of the flight, crew or passengers, the client may be denied boarding with the emotional support or service dog accompanying him/her.
• To fly with your pet, you must present a copy 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 your destination require it. Check, before your flight, the pages of the countries where you will find this type of information.
• When flying with your dog or cat to Colombia, you must have an original health certificate showing that your animal 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 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, flying to Colombia must have 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 refund of the value of your ticket does not apply if your pet does not have the required sanitary and veterinary documentation or shows aggressive behavior.
• The refund of the value of your ticket does not apply if your pet does not have the required sanitary 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 reservations with allied airlines or codeshare airlines. You must validate with the airline you are booking with, as policies may vary according to your origin or destination.

Considerations for the United States

When traveling to the United States, keep in mind the following restrictions for the entry of dogs:

• If you enjoy traveling with your dog, please note as of July 14, dogs living in countries that are considered high risk for canine rabies or who have been in these countries within the previous 6 months are not allowed to enter the United States and as of January 7, 2022, dogs from high-risk countries, who have a CDC permit for dog importation, must enter only through approved ports of entry:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK) 
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) 
• Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

• 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 complete list can be consulted 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 [e-mail] at least 30 business days before 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 denied entry, returned to the country of origin, and you will be responsible for any costs incurred.

List of people who may apply for import permits for dogs if the dog lives or has been in a country considered high risk in the past 6 months:

• U.S. government employees with permanent change of location or temporary work orders.
• U.S. citizens or legal residents who are relocated to the U.S., e.g., for employment or education purposes.
• Owners of service dogs that are specifically trained to assist the owner with a disability.
• Importers of dogs for genuine scientific, educational, exhibition, or law enforcement purposes.

You can download the import permit application here. In addition, you must meet these requirements:

• Provide a valid rabies certificate.
• Your dog must be at least six months old.
• Your dog must have a microchip.

Permits are limited to three dogs per person (except for importers of dogs for scientific, educational or exhibition purposes). Also, keep in mind 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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Currently, New York-JFK is the only airport that meets this requirement.

Considerations for Europe

If you are flying to Europe, keep in mind the following information:

• According to EU Regulation 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pets, at the authorized Passenger Points of Entry for the introduction of pets, checks will be carried out on all pets, whether traveling in the cabin or in the hold, upon disembarkation from aircraft, when the flight is coming from a third country.

• For travels 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.

• In Madrid and Barcelona, the responsibility for carrying out these controls is the personnel of the Guardia Civil and in case 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 that it returns to its country of origin on the first flight that is possible.
  • Quarantine 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 from the Kingdom of Spain for any type of pet. This document will be required upon arrival in Colombia.

Pet transport exceptions

• The transport of live animals to the Galapagos Islands is not allowed.
• Due to Animal Reception Center restrictions, this service is not available for flights to the UK.
• This service is not available for flights to/from Aruba and Curaçao. The only exception is in case of a permanent move to the island of Curaçao with the corresponding authorization from the authority.