Air Baltic Pet Policy (2026): Cabin and Hold Rules, Fees and Documents

The airBaltic pet policy allows only cats and dogs on its flights. Pets weighing up to 8 kg including the carrier can travel in the cabin in a carrier no larger than 55 x 40 x 23 cm, for €70 per crate per direction. Heavier pets travel in the hold, up to a combined weight of 75 kg, for €130 (1–32 kg) or €220 (33–75 kg). Both options must be arranged with airBaltic before you book (airBaltic, 2026). The pet also needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport.

The airBaltic pet policy is the set of rules from airBaltic, the Latvian flag carrier, that decides which animals may fly, where on the aircraft they travel, what containers they need and how much the passenger pays. As of October 2026, the figures below come directly from airBaltic's official Travelling with pets page. The document rules come from the European Commission and the UK government. Airlines and regulators update these rules often, so check them again before you fly.

airBaltic pet policy at a glance

airBaltic offers two ways for a pet to travel with its owner: in the passenger cabin as hand luggage, or in the hold as checked baggage. Animals that meet neither set of limits must be sent as manifested cargo through airBaltic Cargo.

Source: airBaltic, Travelling with pets, accessed October 2026. Pets over 75 kg must be shipped as cargo through airBaltic Cargo.

Which animals can fly with airBaltic?

airBaltic carries only cats and dogs as pets, either in the cabin or in the hold. According to airBaltic (2026), other animals such as rabbits or birds cannot travel as cabin pets or checked baggage and must be booked as cargo through airBaltic Cargo.

airBaltic's cargo page says the airline is an EU-authorised animal carrier (transporter authorisation no. 067731). For live animal shipments from Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia, it recommends using agents who hold a Live Animal Regulations training certificate from the International Air Transport Association (IATA LAR). airBaltic's own live-animal cargo requirements also accept snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats only in a crate one size larger than standard, with ventilation on all four sides.

Flying with a pet in the airBaltic cabin

Weight and carrier size

A cabin pet and its carrier together may weigh no more than 8 kg, and the carrier may measure no more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm (airBaltic, 2026). The carrier must be closed, absorbent and breathable, and it must fit under the seat in front of you for the whole flight.

Seating and behaviour rules

• Each passenger may bring one carrier. Two pets of the same species may share it if they fit comfortably.
• Passengers with cabin pets cannot sit in the first row or in an emergency exit row.
• The pet must stay inside the carrier for the whole flight and must remain quiet, with no bad smells.
• The carrier must be large enough for the pet to stand up, turn around and lie down. If it is not, airBaltic may refuse check-in.

Cabin fee

The cabin fee is €70 per crate per direction on airBaltic-operated flights (airBaltic, 2026). If your layover is longer than 24 hours, you pay the fee again for each flight. If your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, you pay each airline's pet fee separately. The fee is non-refundable.

Flying with a pet in the airBaltic cargo hold

Weight, crate size and construction

Pets that are too heavy for the cabin can travel in the hold, as long as the pet and crate together weigh no more than 75 kg. On flights to or from Amsterdam, the limit is 39 kg (airBaltic, 2026). The crate may measure up to 84 x 142 x 84 cm and must be:

• Made of hard plastic or wood (soft crates and wire-mesh crates are not accepted)
• Big enough for the pet to stand, turn and lie down
• Escape-proof and leakproof, with food and water bowls fitted
• Fitted with at least two handles if the total weight is over 32 kg
• Without working wheels (any castors must be removed or disabled)

Hold fees

airBaltic (2026) charges €130 per crate per direction for a combined weight of 1–32 kg and €220 for 33–75 kg. Anything over 75 kg must go as manifested cargo. As with cabin pets, fees are non-refundable and are charged separately by each airline on a multi-airline itinerary.

What hold travel is like for the animal

airBaltic says the hold is pressurised and temperature-controlled, although conditions may differ slightly from the cabin. It is dark, which keeps most animals calm, but it can be noisy during take-off and landing. No one can check on the pet during the flight. Pets are usually unloaded first, but delays can happen.

How to book a pet on airBaltic: step by step

1. Check the entry rules for your destination and any transit countries. airBaltic says passengers must comply with the import, export and transit rules of every country on the route and must get all the required documents themselves.
2. Contact airBaltic before you buy a ticket. Each flight has a limited number of pet places, and airBaltic must confirm space in advance.
3. Pay the pet fee online. Once your pet's place is confirmed, pay through airBaltic's online payment service. You can also add a pet to a ticket you have already bought.
4. Prepare the carrier or crate. Check the dimensions and weight. For the hold, line the crate with absorbent material and attach labels showing the pet's name, your name and contact details, and the words LIVE ANIMAL.
5. Feed your pet early. airBaltic advises feeding no later than 4 hours before the flight and giving a little water before boarding.
6. Arrive early. If your pet travels in the hold, arrive at least 2 hours before departure, and bring the pet passport and proof of vaccination.

Assistance dogs and emotional support animals

Assistance dogs fly free in the cabin on airBaltic. They do not need a carrier, there is no weight limit, and the dog sits on the floor at your feet, not in the aisle (airBaltic, 2026). When booking, you must send a certificate from an assistance dog school with a valid registration number. The school must be approved by Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu) or the European Guide Dog Federation (EGDF).

airBaltic does not accept obedience training certificates, US Department of Transportation (DOT) forms, self-training or online training as proof. Passengers with assistance dogs cannot sit in emergency exit rows. If you want help at the airport, request it at least 48 hours before the flight.

Emotional support animals are not allowed in the cabin as assistance animals. airBaltic says an emotional support dog or cat can fly only as a regular pet, which means the pet weight, carrier and fee rules above apply.

Documents your pet needs: EU rules as of October 2026

airBaltic's pet page lists the usual requirements as a microchip, an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination, with the pet at least 15 weeks old. The legal detail comes from the European Commission. Since 22 April 2026, the European Commission has applied new rules for non-commercial pet travel under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131. These replace the framework built on Regulation (EU) No 576/2013.

Travelling between EU countries (for example Riga to Vilnius or Tallinn)

• Microchip: The dog, cat or ferret must be identified with a microchip. A clearly readable tattoo is accepted only if it was applied before 3 July 2011 (European Commission, 2026).
• Rabies vaccination: The vaccine must be given when the animal is at least 12 weeks old and must not be given before the microchip is implanted. A primary vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the vaccination protocol is completed (European Commission, 2026). This is why airBaltic's 15-week minimum age lines up with EU law.
• EU pet passport: This must be issued by an authorised veterinarian. Passports issued under older models remain valid under the transition rules set out by the European Commission (2026).
• Tapeworm treatment for dogs: Dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway must be treated against Echinococcus multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours before arrival (European Commission, 2026). This matters on airBaltic's routes to Helsinki and Dublin.
• Number of pets: A maximum of five pets per owner may travel for non-commercial purposes, except for registered competitions or shows (European Commission, 2026).

Flying into the EU from a non-EU country

Pets arriving from outside the EU generally need an EU animal health certificate. It must be issued or endorsed by an official veterinarian no more than 10 days before the entry checks, and it must come with the owner's written declaration that the movement is non-commercial (European Commission, 2026). Pets from countries not on the EU's exemption list also need a rabies antibody titration test with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before the certificate is issued. The European Commission notes that certificates drawn up under the old Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 model remain valid only if issued before 1 October 2026.

Flying into Great Britain

On airBaltic's UK routes, the British rules are stricter than the airline's general policy. GOV.UK says pets entering Great Britain by plane must travel as cargo, unless the flight is a chartered private plane or the animal is a guide or assistance dog. In the GOV.UK list of approved pet travel routes, Air Baltic Corporation is listed among the commercial airlines that carry pets in the hold, to London Gatwick. In practice, a small cat or dog cannot fly into London in the airBaltic cabin under the PETS rules. Confirm the arrangement with airBaltic before booking.

There is one difference in wording to note. airBaltic calls hold travel "checked baggage", while GOV.UK says pets travel "as cargo" into Great Britain. If you are flying to the UK, ask airBaltic which booking method applies to your route.

Where sources differ and what to watch for

• Minimum age: airBaltic states 15 weeks, while EU law sets 12 weeks at vaccination plus a 21-day wait. The two produce the same result in practice, but the EU rule is the legal standard.
• Amsterdam: The hold limit is 39 kg instead of 75 kg on flights to or from Amsterdam (airBaltic, 2026).
• Codeshare and connecting flights: airBaltic's fees and limits apply only when every flight in the itinerary is operated by airBaltic. Partner airlines apply their own rules and charge their own fees.
• Old passports: EU pet passports issued under the older models remain usable under the transition rules, but check the issue date against the European Commission's guidance.

EU pet passport vs Animal Passport: not the same thing

Travellers sometimes confuse an EU pet passport with the Animal Passport platform. They are different things.

• An EU pet passport is an official identification document for dogs, cats and ferrets. An authorised veterinarian issues it under EU law, and it records the microchip number and rabies vaccination. Airlines such as airBaltic and border authorities check it.
• Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record. It uses muzzle biometrics, because an animal's nose print is unique like a fingerprint, and it is captured with a phone. The record links the owner, breed, estimated age (from a dental photograph, with a confidence score), body condition score (1–5, from a side-profile photo) and vaccination history.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document. It does not replace a microchip, an EU pet passport or an animal health certificate for any flight. Its use is in livestock identity. In the Pakistan floods of August 2025, it helped farmers reclaim animals after paper ear tags were washed away. For more about livestock identification, see the Animal Passport blog.

Final checklist before your airBaltic flight

1. Pet is a cat or dog and within the 8 kg (cabin) or 75 kg (hold) limit.
2. Carrier or crate meets airBaltic's size and construction rules.
3. Pet place has been confirmed by airBaltic and the fee paid online.
4. Microchip, rabies vaccination and EU pet passport or animal health certificate are in order.
5. Tapeworm treatment is recorded for dogs flying to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway.
6. The UK route uses hold travel to an approved airport, unless your dog is a recognised assistance dog.

By Animal Passport. Last updated 10 October 2026. This article summarises published airline and government rules. It is not legal or veterinary advice. Always confirm with airBaltic and the destination country's authorities before you travel.