For comparison, for the same date as the launch, nonstop flying on a major carrier starts at $220 one way from New York to Los Angeles and from $525 to London. Adding a dog would cost more.
To bark CEO and co-founder Matt Meeker said the inspiration for Bark Air came from his Great Dane. Hugo visited nearly two dozen states and Canada during his 12-year life, but he never pranced on the West Coast or in Europe due to the challenges of flying animals, especially due to of its size.
Options are limited for pets too large for the cabin. Depending on the season, destination and airline, owners may transport their dogs as checked baggage or cargo, an arrangement that carries risks. According to Department of Transportation According to this data, U.S. carriers reported nine incidents involving animals, including seven deaths, in 2022. (The agency has not released its 2023 annual figures for these incidents).
To understand the experience of traveling as luggage, Meeker packed himself into a crate and was rolled onto the tarmac and loaded onto a plane, where he remained in his enclosure for 45 minutes to an hour. His experience confirmed his suspicions: flying in the belly of a plane can be traumatic.
“It was very cramped, very dark. Loud noises. Disorienting. No food or water. Nowhere to go to the bathroom,” Meeker said. “It was very, very terrible.”
Wealthy travelers can book a private or charter plane. However, non-commercial air travel may be prohibitive or unpredictable. K9 Jetsa private charter operator that began offering pet-friendly flights last year, serves 13 destinations, including Dallas, Paris and West Palm Beach, Florida. It has similar prices to BarkAir — $6,650 from New Jersey to Los Angeles — but will cancel the flight if it's not at least 75 percent full.
“There’s a tremendous amount of interest and demand, and really frustration,” Meeker said. “People are looking for a reasonable solution to transport their dog if they move or go on summer vacation or weekend away.”
Meeker said the company partnered with Heel Air, a New York-based charter company that will fly two Gulfstream G550s under the Bark Air banner. The plane can accommodate 14 passengers, but the company will cap this number at 10.
Once the traveler has booked the flight, a concierge will contact the family to find out the dog's temperament and to help with logistics, including the documents required to enter England. Rate includes free car service within 30 miles of arrival destination.
Meeker recommends passengers arrive 45 minutes to an hour before departure. Guests will wait in a private area inside the terminal, where a chef will prepare a hot meal for human travelers to avoid any in-flight tray navigation. Before boarding, dogs will have the opportunity to sniff each other.
On board, animals can fly without a leash as long as they behave well. When tested, Meeker said the dogs were very courteous, with no unruly outbursts.
“They would say hello to other dogs and say hello to other people. Everyone was very calm about it,” he said. “For dogs who were a little more nervous, or for people who were more nervous about their dog, we have a place on the plane for so they can sit without anyone bothering them.”
Since puppies are the best dogs on board, the carrier will cater to their tastes. The menu will include “Doggie Champagne” (actually chicken broth), dog donuts and meat snacks served on a silver platter. The flight crew will include professionals trained in veterinary care and canine behavior. At the end of the journey, the four-legged aviators will receive their wings, which they can proudly pin to their collar or harness.
If Bark Air is successful, Meeker hopes to add larger planes to its fleet, which could help reduce fares. He also dreams of building the world's first flying dog park.
“Dogs making these long trips will have a park where they can play with other dogs while their humans have a drink at the bar at the edge of the park,” he said.
Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, said pet airlines are more likely to fail than to succeed. (RIP, Pet Airways.) However, Bark Air does have a few advantages. It’s not about building an airline from scratch. It has brand recognition. And he oversees a mailing list containing the names of millions of animal lovers willing to spend a small fortune on their pooches.
“Some people absolutely will,” Harteveldt said. “The question is: Will there be enough people who love their pets enough to pay $6,000 or more to transport them from coast to coast or from New York to London?”
