Travelling with pets on Pegasus Airlines
Pegasus Airlines treats the carriage of a pet as a separate paid service. Space must be arranged in advance: the number of animals accepted on each flight is limited, and a passenger ticket alone does not guarantee that a pet will be allowed on board.
The information below concerns pets travelling in the cabin under the PETC service. Before buying a ticket, check both the airline’s rules and the entry or transit requirements of every country on the itinerary. Required veterinary documents, minimum ages and import rules vary considerably.
Which pets does Pegasus Airlines accept?
Cats, dogs and birds are accepted in the cabin on domestic flights within Turkey. On international flights, including Northern Cyprus, only cats and dogs are permitted.
A pet must be at least three months old on the date of travel. Cats and dogs older than three months need a valid rabies vaccination; Pegasus states that the vaccination must be renewed annually. An unvaccinated animal will not be accepted.
A separate age restriction applies to Kangal dogs: the airline accepts them only if they are under six months old.
Pegasus may refuse an animal if its breed or behaviour could create a risk in the cabin. The airline’s examples include:
- American Pit Bull Terriers;
- Fila Brasileiros;
- Tosa Inus;
- Dogo Argentinos;
- American Staffordshire Terriers;
- Presa Canarios;
- Rottweilers;
- Dobermanns;
- Mastiffs and Neapolitan Mastiffs;
- American Bulldogs;
- Caucasian Shepherd Dogs;
- Chow Chows.
This is not a complete list. If a dog belongs to a large guarding or fighting breed, confirm its eligibility with the airline before paying for the ticket.
Routes on which pets are not accepted
Pegasus does not carry pets:
- on flights to Bahrain, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates;
- on flights to or from Ireland, Saudi Arabia or the United Kingdom.
Before travelling to Oman, contact the Omani consulate and check the current import rules. Applicable requirements and approvals are also available from the Oman Customs website >>.
Even when Pegasus accepts a pet on a particular route, a country may prohibit the animal from entering, leaving or transiting its territory. This matters on connecting journeys: the rules of every country on the itinerary need to be checked.
Carrier size and weight
The pet carrier must be no larger than 32 × 32 × 50 cm. It must suit the size of the animal, close securely and provide adequate ventilation. The base must be waterproof. A soft- or hard-sided carrier is suitable only if it can withstand scratching and accidental impact and the animal cannot escape.
The combined weight of the pet and its carrier must not exceed 8 kg.
One carrier may hold:
- no more than two cats, two dogs or two birds;
- a mother with one young animal;
- two young animals from the same mother.
The total 8 kg limit still applies. Two animals sharing one carrier are recorded as one PETC.
A buggy-style pet stroller is not part of the cabin carrier allowance. It is treated as baggage and placed in the aircraft hold.
Restrictions for passengers travelling with pets
An unaccompanied passenger aged 12 or younger may not travel with a pet.
Passengers using the PETC service cannot sit in the front row or in an emergency-exit row. The seat is assigned with the applicable safety rules and available seats in mind.
If a pet becomes highly anxious, is frightened by people or is difficult to handle, discuss medication with a veterinarian. Do not give the animal a sedative without professional advice: a vet should select the medication and decide when it is to be administered.
Documents required for pet travel
The required documents depend on the departure point, destination and any connecting airports. A pet passport, health certificate, test results, import permit, vaccination records or quarantine documents may be needed.
Pegasus draws particular attention to:
- a pet passport showing vaccination dates and validity;
- a rabies antibody titration test completed at least three months before travel when the itinerary requires it;
- an international health certificate issued by the competent agricultural authority.
For departures from Turkey, once the vaccination and testing requirements have been met, the owner must apply to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture for an international health certificate. A pet will not be accepted without the documents required for the route.
Owners taking a non-commercial pet to Northern Cyprus need an import licence. Start the application early: the original documents must be ready by check-in.
How to add a pet to a booking
Only a limited number of pets can be accepted on each flight. Pegasus therefore advises passengers to contact its call centre immediately after purchasing a ticket and request the PETC service. If the flight’s pet quota is already full, the animal will not be accepted.
The airline information supplied for this service lists:
- 0888 228 12 12 — Pegasus call centre;
- 0850 399 17 01 — free line for BolBol members.
During the call, confirm that space is available and ask about the service fee, permitted carrier and exact documents needed for the itinerary. Use only contact details published on the official Pegasus Airlines website.
What to check before leaving for the airport
A few days before departure, measure and weigh the carrier again. Weigh everything together: the animal, bedding and the carrier itself. Check the lock, ventilation openings and waterproof base.
Keep the original documents in your cabin baggage and save electronic copies on your phone. The originals may be required at check-in and during veterinary inspection. If the journey includes a connection, check the transit rules separately; permission to enter the destination does not necessarily allow the animal to pass through a third country.
Allow extra time at the airport. Check-in with a pet can take longer because staff need to verify the PETC booking, examine the carrier and review the veterinary documents.