Japan airlines refuse to allow pets in cabin despite animals’ fiery deaths in Tokyo crash

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have been under pressure to rethink their policies amid an outcry over two pets’ deaths in a crash on January 2

Both previously permitted pets in the cabin, but changed the rules after customer complaints. Experts say the effect on evacuations is also a concern

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Crash investigators inspect the wreckage of a Japan Airlines passenger plane at Haneda Airport on January 3. All passengers and crew escaped the crash unharmed, but a cat and a dog died in the hold. Photo: Jiji Press/EPA-EFE

Published: 12:00pm, 31 Jan 2024

Despite the outcry from animal-lovers after a dog and a cat died in the hold of the Japan Airlines (JAL) aircraft that collided with another plane at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on January 2, Japan’s two major airlines say they have no plans to lift their ban on pets accompanying passengers in the cabin.

JAL and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have been under pressure to rethink their policies that require animals to travel in secure containers in the hold of aircraft, with pet-lovers pointing out that other international airlines permit animals to travel with their owners in the cabin.

Fukuoka-based Star Flyer also started permitting passengers to bring small dogs and cats aboard all domestic flights on January 15, in an effort to appeal to more travellers. According to the company’s website, passengers are permitted to have one pet with them in the cabin, with a maximum of two animals on any flight.

Some international carriers permit passengers to travel with their pets in the cabin. Photo: Shutterstock

Star Flyer’s rules require that a pet remain in a crate and be assigned a seat alongside its owner in the rearmost seat rows. It charges 50,000 yen (US$340) for a seat occupied by a pet.

Although JAL and ANA both previously permitted animals to travel in their cabins, the airlines said they discontinued those policies in large part due to customer feedback.

“Passengers were in the past allowed to take their pets into the cabin, but we received many negative comments from other passengers about allergic reactions, while others complained about the smell and excessive noise and barking,” said JAL spokeswoman Saiko Kuwasaki.

“We considered the situation very carefully, but it was finally decided that pets on all JAL flights must now travel in the cargo hold.”