Flying with a pet from Delhi is manageable, but only when you understand the airline rules, documents, airport timeline, and travel options before booking. A missed certificate, unsuitable carrier, or unconfirmed pet booking can quickly turn into a stressful airport problem.
Flying with a pet from Delhi mainly depends on three things: which airline you choose, whether your journey is domestic or international, and whether your pet will travel in the cabin, aircraft hold, or as cargo. Each option comes with different rules, documents, weight limits, and airport procedures.
Airline pet policies can change, so always check the latest requirements before booking. This guide gives you the basic information you need to start planning a flight from Delhi, while our individual airline guides cover detailed charges, carrier dimensions, booking procedures, and restrictions.
Which Airlines Allow Pets From Delhi?
For regular pet travel from Delhi, Air India and Akasa Air are two of the main airlines with published pet-travel services for dogs and cats. The exact flight, route, aircraft, and available pet slots still need to be confirmed.
Air India
Air India allows domesticated dogs and cats on eligible flights through its Paws on Board service. Pets can travel in the cabin when the combined weight of the pet and carrier is up to 10 kg. Pets weighing more than 10 kg and up to 32 kg, including the carrier, must be booked separately as checked baggage or cargo, while pets above 32 kg must travel as cargo. Air India asks passengers to book pet travel at least 48 hours before departure and report at the airport at least three hours before the flight. Air India also limits the number of pets accepted on a flight, so confirm availability before you finalise your own ticket.
For charges, exact carrier dimensions, route restrictions, booking steps, and other conditions, read our complete guide on Air India Pet Policy: Paws on Board Booking Guide, Charges, Documents and Rules.
Akasa Air
Akasa Air offers Pets on Akasa on many domestic routes. Its current pages state that cats and dogs aged three months or older can travel either in the cabin or the cargo compartment, depending on the applicable weight, carrier, and travel rules. Akasa Air allows three pets per flight, two pets in the cabin and one in the cargo compartment.
For current charges, weight limits, carrier requirements, documents, and booking procedure, read our complete Akasa Air Pet Policy: Cabin, Check-In and Cargo Rules guide.
Still deciding between the two? Our Air India and Akasa Air: Which Airline Is Better for Your Pet? comparison explains the major differences from a pet parent’s point of view.
Domestic vs International Pet Travel From Delhi
Paperwork and planning timeline changes considerably depending on your destination.
Domestic Flights From Delhi
Domestic pet travel is comparatively simpler. Depending on the airline and travel mode, you will generally need:
- Airline approval for your pet
- A current vaccination record
- Rabies vaccination details
- A veterinary health or fit-to-fly certificate
- An airline-approved carrier or crate
- Any airline-specific declaration or indemnity form
- Your own ticket and identification
Do not book your flight until you confirm the airline carries pets. Pet slots may be limited, and eligibility can depend on the flight and aircraft.
International Flights From Delhi
International travel requires much more preparation because you must satisfy both the airline’s rules and the destination country’s entry requirements.
Depending on the destination, this can include:
- Microchipping
- Rabies vaccination within a specified timeline
- Rabies antibody titre testing
- Import permits
- Veterinary certificates
- Additional vaccinations or laboratory tests
- AQCS export clearance
India’s Animal Quarantine and Certification Service currently lists a veterinary fit-to-fly certificate, microchip certificate, vaccination details, owner’s passport and ticket, destination-country requirements, and pet photographs among the documents required for exporting dogs and cats internationally. An airway bill is also required where the pet travels as cargo. AQCS advises pet owners to arrange an appointment in advance and states that its export certificate is valid for 10 days from issue or examination.
For international travel, start with the destination country’s rules before booking the flight. Some requirements can take weeks or months to complete.
For a more detailed document-by-document explanation, read our Documents Required for Pet Travel in India guide.
Documents Required Before Flying With a Pet From Delhi
For most journeys, keep a dedicated pet-travel folder containing:
- Vaccination record
- Rabies vaccination certificate
- Veterinary health or fit-to-fly certificate
- Airline pet-booking confirmation
- Owner ID and flight details
- Airline declaration or indemnity form, if required
- Pet photographs, if requested
- International permits and AQCS paperwork, where applicable
Carry both digital and printed copies where possible. Airport day is not the ideal moment to discover that the document you need is buried in an email from three weeks ago.
Pet Carrier and Crate Rules
Your carrier needs to meet the airline’s requirements and give your pet enough room to travel safely. At minimum, your pet should be able to:
- stand naturally
- turn around
- lie down comfortably
- get adequate ventilation
- remain safely contained without risk of escape
The carrier should also have a secure closure and leak-resistant base. For hold or cargo travel, airlines generally require a more substantial crate that meets their applicable specifications. Cabin-carrier dimensions vary by airline, so do not buy a carrier based only on the label “airline approved.” Check the actual measurements allowed by your airline.
Most importantly, do not introduce the carrier or crate on travel day. Your pet should already be comfortable spending time inside it.
For preparation steps, see How to Crate-Train Your Pet Before Travelling.
How Early Should You Reach Delhi Airport With a Pet?
Give yourself considerably more time than you would for an ordinary flight.
Pet travel may involve document verification, checking the carrier or crate, confirming the pet’s condition, completing airline paperwork, and additional processing before normal passenger check-in.
Air India currently asks passengers travelling with pets to report at least three hours before departure. Its published cabin-pet guidance states that documents are checked again at the airport, and the pet carrier may also be measured before check-in.
For Akasa Air or another pet service, follow the reporting time given with your pet booking rather than relying on the normal passenger check-in time.
If your pet is travelling through cargo, confirm the reporting location and reporting time. The cargo process is handled separately from the passenger terminal.
What to Expect at Delhi Airport
Keep the airport part of the journey as simple as possible.
- Keep your pet’s documents together and easily accessible.
- Keep dogs securely leashed where permitted and pets inside their carriers where required.
- Do not allow your pet to roam freely inside the terminal.
- Follow the airline’s instructions about carrier placement and airport handling.
- Ask where you need to proceed after the pet documents have been checked.
- If your pet is travelling through cargo, confirm the correct cargo location before leaving home.
- Allow your dog to relieve itself before entering the terminal.
- Carry poop bags, wipes, and absorbent pads for unexpected messes.
Do not assume that every terminal or airline follows exactly the same pet-handling process. Your booking confirmation and airline instructions should be your guide on travel day.
Delhi Weather Matters When Flying With a Pet
Delhi’s weather can affect the journey even before your pet reaches the aircraft.
Summer
The drive to the airport, unloading, waiting, and airport handling can expose pets to significant heat. Never leave your pet inside a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes.
Heat-sensitive and flat-faced animals need particular care when flying. Air India, for example, currently says brachycephalic or flat-faced dogs and cats are not accepted in its cargo compartment because of the increased risk associated with flying them there.
Winter Fog
Delhi’s winter fog can disrupt flight schedules. A delay matters more when you are travelling with an animal because it affects crate time, toilet breaks, feeding, water, and overall stress.
Check the flight status before leaving home and plan for the possibility that the journey may take longer than the scheduled flying time.
Monsoon
Rain can mean wet paws, damp fur, a damp carrier, traffic delays, and longer travel time to the airport. Carry a towel, wipes, absorbent pads, and spare dry material for the carrier where permitted.
Cabin, Aircraft Hold or Cargo: Which Is Better for Your Pet?
The fact that an airline allows a particular form of pet travel does not automatically make it the best option for every animal.
Cabin
Cabin travel keeps your pet close to you and avoids much of the separation involved in hold or cargo travel. However, the pet still has to remain inside an approved carrier, usually for several hours when airport and boarding time are included.
Aircraft Hold
Larger pets may need to travel separately in the aircraft hold under the airline’s pet-baggage rules. This means separation from you during handling and the flight, as well as considerably longer crate time.
Cargo
Cargo involves a separate handling and booking process and may be necessary for larger animals or particular travel situations. It should not be treated simply as the next option after cabin travel without considering your pet’s health, temperament, breed, crate tolerance, weather conditions, and total journey time.
Senior pets, highly anxious animals, unwell pets, very young pets, heat-sensitive animals, and flat-faced breeds deserve particular consideration before flying.
If your pet must travel as cargo, our guide to Feeding Your Pet Safely for Cargo Flights: What Every Owner Should Know covers food and water planning in more detail.
Feeding, Water and Bathroom Breaks Before the Flight
Food and water need some planning, particularly when your pet will spend several hours inside a carrier or crate.
Offer a normal meal well before travel rather than a heavy meal immediately before leaving for the airport. Keep your pet normally hydrated, but avoid suddenly encouraging excessive drinking just before travel.
Give your dog enough time for a proper toilet break before entering the airport. Cats should have access to their litter tray for as long as practical before leaving home.
If your pet is prone to motion sickness, anxiety, or digestive problems, speak to your veterinarian beforehand. Do not give sedatives, human medicines, or leftover medication without veterinary advice and airline approval.
For some journeys, train or road travel may be more manageable for the individual pet. The shortest journey for us may not be the easiest journey for the animal.
If you have doubts about whether your pet can safely handle the journey, speak to your veterinarian before booking. You may also want to read Does Your Pet Need a Vet Check Before Travel?
Common Mistakes When Flying With a Pet From Delhi
Avoid these surprisingly easy mistakes:
- Booking your own ticket before confirming pet availability on that flight
- Assuming every flight operated by a pet-friendly airline will accept your pet
- Waiting until the last few days to arrange documents
- Buying a carrier before checking the airline’s exact dimensions
- Skipping crate or carrier training
- Reaching Delhi Airport at normal passenger check-in time
- Feeding a large meal shortly before travel
- Forgetting destination-country requirements for an international flight
- Ignoring breed-specific restrictions
- Failing to plan for Delhi heat, fog, rain, or traffic delays
- Relying entirely on verbal information when written confirmation is available
Final Checklist Before Leaving for Delhi Airport
Before you leave home, check that you have:
- Airline pet approval
- Passenger ticket and ID
- Veterinary health certificate
- Vaccination and rabies records
- International documents and AQCS paperwork, where required
- Correct airline-approved carrier or crate
- Pet identification attached securely
- Absorbent mat or lining where permitted
- Water arrangement prepared
- Wipes and poop bags
- Feeding completed at the planned time
- Toilet break completed
- Flight status checked
- Airport reporting time confirmed
- Correct passenger or cargo reporting location confirmed
- Emergency veterinarian contact saved on your phone
Final Thoughts
Flying with a pet from Delhi becomes much easier when you treat the journey as a separate travel plan for your pet rather than simply adding an animal to your own flight booking.
Confirm the airline first, start the documents early, check the carrier requirements before buying one, allow extra time at Delhi Airport, and prepare for weather or flight delays. Most importantly, choose the travel option your individual pet can tolerate safely and comfortably, rather than choosing only by price or convenience.
Image Disclaimer: Some images used in this article are AI-generated or digitally created for illustration purposes. They are intended to help explain pet travel situations and may not show exact airline interiors, airport procedures, carrier placement, terminal layouts, or actual arrangements at Delhi Airport. Always follow the latest instructions from your airline and airport authorities.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general pet travel information and planning. Airline policies, fees, routes, pet acceptance rules, documentation requirements, airport procedures, and international entry regulations can change. Always verify the latest requirements directly with your airline, Delhi Airport, AQCS, your veterinarian, and the relevant destination authorities before booking or travelling with your pet.
