It will be possible for guide dog owners to fly with their assistance dogs in the cabin of an aircraft after the launch of a new scheme at Glasgow Airport.
The airport is the first in Scotland to register for the Pet Travel Scheme that allows registered guide dogs, and other assistance dogs, to fly with their owners to certain approved European destinations and return to Scotland directly.
Until now, passengers travelling with guide and other assistance dogs had to return home via other airports authorised under the Pet Travel Scheme, such as Manchester, Gatwick or Heathrow.
Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “We’re proud to be the first airport in Scotland to offer this service to passengers who want to fly with their guide dogs. We have been working to deliver this scheme for a number of years, and we’re pleased to be able to offer this valuable service in partnership with Thomsonfly, one of the UK’s largest holiday airlines.
“The Pet Travel Scheme promises to transform flying for blind and visually impaired travellers. It gives such passengers the freedom to fly, and the piece of mind that comes from knowing that their guide dog or assistance dog is safely by their side on board the aircraft cabin.”
Airlines must first register specific routes under the Pet Travel Scheme and Thomsonfly is the first carrier at Glasgow to do so, enabling it to offer the service to travellers heading to a number of destinations including Lanzarote, Tenerife and Faro.
Thomsonfly
