Clouds are not the only fluffy thing up in the air any more, as testified by the more than 1,000 canine air passengers carried in the first year of operations at dog-focused airline, Bark Air.
After its launch in May 2024, Bark Air served two routes, connecting the New York City metro area via Westchester County Airport (HPN) to the Los Angeles area via Van Nuys (VNY) and London via Stansted Airport (STN). Bark Air has since added flights aboard its stable of mainly Gulfstream G4 and G5S, connecting to Paris, Lisbon, Madrid, Seattle, Florida, and San Francisco, keeping its furry passengers happy with calming aids and pheromones, dog beverages, and treats along the way.
While other pets and animals are allowed on board, they must stay crated, since Bark Air is a private charter, it promises to “swap the cargo and the chaos for spacious cabins and concierge-level care—from takeoff to touchdown.” Dogs get dibs on being allowed off-leash, unlike their obligatory experience flying with most other commercial carriers.
“When we launched Bark Air last year, our goal was to challenge the norms of dog travel by creating an experience that treats dogs not as cargo, but as VIP guests,” explains Matt Meeker, the co-founder and chief executive officer at Bark, in a statement. “One year later, we’re proud to have delivered on that promise.”
With a package of personalised planning available and even vet appointments taken care of, Meeker claims the airline is all about making the customer experience as pleasant as pawsible, offering “dogs and their humans a stress-free, joy-filled way to explore the world together. This milestone is a testament to our unwavering belief that dogs deserve better—and our commitment to building a dog-first future doesn’t stop here. We’re just getting started.”
The firm’s Instagram feed is a howl, picturing many adorable pooches, from whippets, to bulldogs, to Great Pyrenees, demonstrating Bark Air’s breed of hospitality, some of them even sporting jaunty aviator outfits, goggles and hats, while others take a more relaxed sartorial approach, gazing out at the skies and lounging in slankets and snoods.
But luxury four-legged airborne adventures don’t come cheap. While the cost of many transatlantic airfares is plummeting due to a decline in demand, tickets for Bark Air’s fortnightly departures between New York and London for one dog and one human average a hair-raising $8,900 – and that’s only one way.
