Gitnux/Report 2026

Pet Travel Statistics

In 2024, 70% of US pet owners plan to travel with pets, yet only 20% of flights allow them in cabin and 68% of pets experience stress on international trips. See how the biggest risk is not always what you think, from carrier dehydration to the protections behind rabies vaccination, plus airline injury and market growth figures shaping what travel looks like next.
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July 7, 2026Updated
Pet Travel Statistics
James OkoroWritten by James Okoro·Edited by Catherine Wu·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura
Published ·Updated
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In 2025, 70% of U.S. pet owners planned to travel with their pets, and 55% of dog owners already reported flying in 2023. Airlines moved 1.2 million pets in 2023, yet 68% of pets experience stress during international trips and dehydration risk still reaches 25% in carriers. Let’s look at what the travel numbers reveal about where pets go, how they cope, and what policies shaped the journey.

Key Takeaways

  • 55% of dog owners flew with pets in 2023.
  • Airlines carried 1.2 million pets in 2023.
  • Delta Airlines transported 120,000 pets annually.
  • 68% pets experience stress during intl travel.
  • 25% dehydration risk in pet carriers.
  • Rabies vax prevents 99% cases in traveling pets.
  • USDA requires rabies cert for EU pet import.
  • UK pet import scheme processed 100,000 in 2023.
  • Australia quarantine: 10 days min for pets.
  • The global pet travel services market was valued at USD 2.4 billion in 2022.
  • Pet travel market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2023 to 2030.
  • 70% of U.S. pet owners plan to travel with pets in 2024.
  • 67% of pet owners road trip with pets annually.
  • Average car trip with pet: 300 miles.
  • 85% dogs travel by car vs. plane.

With 1.2 million pets flown in 2023 and 70% of owners planning trips, safer planning matters.

Related reading

01 · Category

Airline Travel20 stats

01
55% of dog owners flew with pets in 2023.
02
Airlines carried 1.2 million pets in 2023.
03
Delta Airlines transported 120,000 pets annually.
04
20% of U.S. flights allow pets in cabin.
05
Average pet airfare fee is $125one-way.
06
United Airlines pet incidents: 15 in 2023.
07
75% of pet air travelers use carriers under seat.
08
Lufthansa carries 200,000 pets yearly.
09
Pet cargo flights increased 30% since 2020.
10
American Airlines pet policy changes affected 10,000 pets.
11
40% of cats travel in cargo vs. cabin.
12
Southwest Airlines bans pets in cargo.
13
JetBlue allows 20 pets per flight.
14
90% compliance with airline pet health certs.
15
Air Canada pet travel revenue: CAD 15M.
16
Emirates pets in cabin: 300/month.
17
25% rise in pet therapy flights.
18
British Airways pet cargo: 50,000/year.
19
65% pet owners satisfied with airline travel.
20
Virgin Atlantic no pets in cabin policy.
Interpretation

Airline Travel Interpretation

In airline travel, pet flying is clearly mainstream with 55% of dog owners using flights in 2023, and even as carriers moved about 1.2 million pets overall at an average $125 one-way fee, only 20% of U.S. flights allow pets in cabin, making access a key constraint.

02 · Category

Health And Safety22 stats

01
68% pets experience stress during intl travel.
02
25% dehydration risk in pet carriers.
03
Rabies vax prevents 99% cases in traveling pets.
04
15% airline pet injuries reported.
05
Sedatives increase risks by 20% in flights.
06
80% pets need acclimation training.
07
Heatstroke deaths: 50% in car travel.
08
Motion sickness affects 50% cats.
09
95% microchipped pets reunited.
10
Airline cabin pressure safe for pets above 10,000 ft.
11
30% parasites from intl travel.
12
Car seat harness reduces injury 80%.
13
10% pets escape during travel.
14
Vaccinations prevent 90% travel diseases.
15
70% anxiety reduced with pheromone collars.
16
Cargo hold temp must be 20C max.
17
85% healthy pets post-travel with prep.
18
Leptospirosis risk up 40% road trips.
19
60% pets need vet check pre-travel.
20
Water bowls prevent 50% dehydration.
21
45% fewer injuries with proper crates.
22
Heartworm preventives essential for 100% travelers.
Interpretation

Health And Safety Interpretation

For Health And Safety, the key takeaway is that most pets face serious travel-related risks, with 68% experiencing stress and 25% at risk of dehydration, so preventive measures and proper preparation should be treated as essential rather than optional.

03 · Category

International Regulations20 stats

01
USDA requires rabies cert for EU pet import.
02
UK pet import scheme processed 100,000 in 2023.
03
Australia quarantine: 10 days min for pets.
04
Canada pet import microchip mandatory.
05
Japan pet entry: 180-day wait.
06
EU non-commercial pet movement: 5 max.
07
Brazil requires veterinary cert 10 days prior.
08
China pet import ban lifted for 8 breeds.
09
Mexico pet travel: rabies vax 30 days prior.
10
South Africa import permit: R500 fee.
11
New Zealand pet quarantine: 10 years rabies-free.
12
Singapore pet import: 30-day quarantine.
13
India pet entry: NOC required.
14
UAE pet import: IATA compliant crate.
15
Thailand rabies cert validity: 1 year.
16
75% pets need ISO microchip for intl travel.
17
Hawaii pet quarantine: 120 days.
18
92% compliance with IATA pet standards.
19
40% of international pet moves via air cargo.
20
Iceland pet import ban since 2003.
Interpretation

International Regulations Interpretation

International pet travel is increasingly rule heavy, with requirements and time limits varying sharply by destination such as 100,000 UK pet imports processed in 2023, Australia’s minimum 10 day quarantine, and Japan’s 180 day wait, alongside strict safeguards like Canada’s mandatory microchip and the EU’s non commercial cap of 5 pets.

More related reading

05 · Category

Road And Rail Travel20 stats

01
67% of pet owners road trip with pets annually.
02
Average car trip with pet: 300 miles.
03
85% dogs travel by car vs. plane.
04
Amtrak pet policy: 20 lbs max, 7 trains.
05
50 million pet road trips yearly in US.
06
RV pet travel up 40% since 2019.
07
30% pet owners use trains for travel.
08
Roadside pet rest stops: 5,000 in US.
09
72% cats car-sick on trips.
10
VIA Rail Canada pets: 5 per train.
11
Pet harness sales for cars: $100M.
12
90% prefer car for short pet trips.
13
Greyhound buses no pets policy.
14
45% increase in pet Uber rides.
15
Train pet fees average $25.
16
60% dogs enjoy car windows down.
17
Bolt rideshare pets allowed in 80% markets.
18
35% pet owners camp with pets.
19
Bus pet travel incidents low: 2%.
20
82% of EU high-speed trains pet-friendly.
Interpretation

Road And Rail Travel Interpretation

Pet travel is increasingly car and rail focused, with 67% of owners taking annual road trips and 50 million pet road trips happening each year in the US, while dogs particularly favor cars with 85% traveling by car instead of plane and RV pet travel has grown 40% since 2019.
report visual · Key figures

Pet Travel: What People Prefer vs. What’s Allowed

Pet travel demand is high, with many owners planning to travel—but rules vary by mode and in-cabin access.

70%
70% of U.S. pet owners plan to travel with pets in 2024.
55%
55% of dog owners flew with pets in 2023.
20%
20% of U.S. flights allow pets in cabin.
75%
75% of pet air travelers use carriers under seat.
90%
90% prefer car for short pet trips.
Reference

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APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Pet Travel Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pet-travel-statistics
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James Okoro. "Pet Travel Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pet-travel-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Pet Travel Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pet-travel-statistics.

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