airBaltic Pet Policy 2026: Cabin Limits, Hold Fees, Documents and Assistance Dogs

The airBaltic pet policy allows only cats and dogs to fly: small pets travel in the cabin if pet plus carrier weighs no more than 8 kg in a carrier up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm, for €70 per carrier per direction, while larger pets fly in the hold up to 75 kg for €130–€220 (airBaltic, 2026). You must contact airBaltic before booking, because pet spaces are limited, and your pet must meet the entry rules of your destination, which within the European Union (EU) means a microchip, rabies vaccination and EU pet passport.

In plain terms, the airBaltic pet policy is the set of rules the Latvian national airline airBaltic applies to passengers flying with animals: which species it accepts, where they sit, what carriers and crates must look like, what it costs, and which documents the passenger is responsible for. As of October 2026, those rules are published on airBaltic's official Travelling with pets page, which this guide summarises and cross-checks against official EU and UK government sources.

airBaltic pet policy at a glance (October 2026)

The table below compares the three ways an animal can travel with airBaltic. All figures come from airBaltic's official pet and cargo pages as of October 2026 and apply when every flight in your itinerary is operated by airBaltic.

Which animals does airBaltic accept?

airBaltic accepts only cats and dogs as pets in the cabin or hold, according to its official Travelling with pets page (2026). Other animals, such as rabbits or birds, "must be shipped as cargo" and booked through airBaltic Cargo.

For cargo shipments, airBaltic states that it is an EU-authorised animal carrier (transporter authorisation no. 067731) and recommends working with agents who hold an International Air Transport Association Live Animals Regulations (IATA LAR) training certificate. The IATA LAR is the worldwide industry standard for carrying live animals by commercial airline, and IATA says its new edition took effect on 1 January 2026.

airBaltic cabin pet rules: the 8 kg limit

Small cats and dogs can fly beside you as hand luggage. airBaltic's 2026 rules for cabin pets are:

• Weight: maximum 8 kg for pet and carrier combined.
• Carrier size: maximum 55 × 40 × 23 cm (length × width × height).
• Carrier type: closed, absorbent and breathable, placed under the seat in front of you.
• Quantity: one carrier per person; two pets of the same kind may share one carrier if they fit.
• Seating: no seats in the first row or at an emergency exit.
• Behaviour: no bad smells or noise; the pet must stay inside the carrier for the whole flight.

airBaltic also says the carrier must be large enough for the animal to stand up, turn around and lie down, and that check-in may be refused if it is not. That requirement sits in tension with the 23 cm height cap, so in practice the cabin option suits cats and toy-breed dogs.

How much does it cost to fly a pet in the cabin with airBaltic?

The cabin fee is €70 per carrier per direction on airBaltic flights (airBaltic, 2026). If a layover lasts more than 24 hours, the fee applies to each flight. If your journey involves several airlines, you pay each airline's pet fee separately. The fee is non-refundable.

airBaltic hold rules for larger pets

Cats and dogs too heavy for the cabin travel in the pressurised, temperature-controlled cargo hold as checked baggage. airBaltic's 2026 hold rules are:

• Weight: up to 75 kg for pet and crate; on flights to or from Amsterdam the maximum is 39 kg.
• Crate size: maximum 84 × 142 × 84 cm.
• Crate type: hard plastic or wood, not soft-sided or wire mesh; escape-proof and leakproof, with food and water bowls.
• Handles and wheels: crates over 32 kg total need at least two handles; any wheels must be removed or made inoperable.
• Sharing: two pets of the same kind up to 14 kg each, or three young animals of the same kind up to six months old, may share one crate.

How much does airBaltic charge for pets in the hold?

airBaltic charges €130 per crate per direction for 1–32 kg and €220 for 33–75 kg (airBaltic, 2026). Animals over 75 kg must travel as manifested cargo. These fees are also non-refundable.

Sources disagree on hold pricing: an older airBaltic blog post lists €100 (1–32 kg) and €200 (over 32 kg) and a crate maximum of 117 × 84 × 84 cm. The current official policy page lists €130 and €220 and 84 × 142 × 84 cm. Treat the official policy page as authoritative and confirm the price when you book.

How to book a pet on airBaltic: step by step

1. Check destination rules first. airBaltic says passengers must follow the pet import and export rules of the departure and destination countries and obtain all health, vaccination and transit documents themselves.
2. Contact airBaltic before buying a ticket. The airline limits how many pets can fly on each flight, so it asks you to check availability first.
3. Get confirmation. Your pet's travel must be confirmed in advance by airBaltic.
4. Pay online. Once confirmed, you pay through airBaltic's online payment service; pets can also be added to an existing booking this way.
5. Prepare the container. Measure and weigh the carrier or crate with your pet inside against the limits above.
6. Arrive early. For hold pets, arrive at least 2 hours before departure, line the crate with absorbent material, and label it with your pet's name, your contact details and "LIVE ANIMAL".
7. Keep documents to hand. Bring your pet's passport and vaccination proof; customs or border officials may check them on arrival.

What documents does my pet need to fly with airBaltic?

airBaltic does not issue pet travel documents; it tells passengers that they "usually" need a microchip, an EU pet passport, and a valid rabies vaccination, with the pet at least 15 weeks old. Those requirements come from EU law, summarised by the European Commission's Your Europe portal.

Travel between EU countries

According to the European Commission (Your Europe), a dog, cat or ferret travelling between EU countries needs:

• a microchip that meets EU technical requirements (or a readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011);
• a rabies vaccination given after microchipping, with the first vaccination at no younger than 12 weeks and travel no sooner than 21 days later;
• a valid European pet passport issued by an authorised vet;
• for dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment 24 to 120 hours before travel.

The 12 weeks plus 21 days in the EU rules is why airBaltic quotes a minimum age of about 15 weeks. Latvia, airBaltic's home country, is on the European Commission's list of countries that do not admit young pets that are unvaccinated or not yet fully immune.

Entering the EU from a non-EU country

Pets arriving from outside the EU need an EU animal health certificate issued by an official state vet no more than 10 days before arrival, and from most non-EU countries a rabies antibody titration test followed by a 3-month wait, according to the European Commission. Pets must enter through a designated travellers' point of entry.

Flights to the United Kingdom

The UK Government (GOV.UK) says pets entering Great Britain must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travel, carry the correct pet travel document, and arrive on an approved route. Pets that do not comply may be quarantined for up to 4 months at the owner's expense. An older airBaltic blog post states that pets flying to the UK can travel only as manifested cargo, so contact airBaltic before booking any UK itinerary.

airBaltic assistance dog and emotional support animal policy

Assistance dogs fly free in the cabin on airBaltic, with no carrier and no weight limit, according to airBaltic's assistance dogs page (2026). The dog must sit on the floor at your feet, not in the aisle, and you cannot sit in an emergency exit row.

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 says obedience training certificates, a US Department of Transportation (DOT) form, self-training and online training are not sufficient for travel to or from non-EU countries.

Emotional support animals are not allowed in the cabin as assistance animals. An emotional support cat or dog can still fly under the standard pet rules and fees.

Practical tips for a calmer flight

airBaltic's own advice for cabin pets is to feed them no later than 4 hours before the flight, offer a little water before boarding, and bring a blanket or toy that smells of home. It notes that calming sprays or collars may help but tells owners to ask a vet. For hold pets, airBaltic says the hold is dark and can be noisy at takeoff and landing, and no one can check on the animal during the flight.

If you are connecting onward, check that your pet's documents are valid for the next country as well, and remember that a second airline will charge its own pet fee.

EU pet passport vs Animal Passport: not the same thing

Because of the word "passport", travellers sometimes confuse official pet travel documents with digital animal ID products. They are different.

• The EU pet passport is an official identification document following an EU standard model, issued by an authorised vet to EU-resident owners of dogs, cats and ferrets. It records the microchip code, rabies vaccination and owner details, and it is the document airBaltic expects for intra-EU pet travel.
• Animal Passport is a digital animal and livestock identity record built on muzzle biometrics: an animal's nose print is unique, much like a human fingerprint. Using a phone, the record links the animal to its owner, breed, estimated age, body condition and vaccination history. Age is estimated from a dental photograph with a confidence score, and body condition is scored 1–5 from a side-profile photo.

Animal Passport is not a government-issued travel document and does not replace an EU pet passport, an EU animal health certificate, a microchip or a vet's certification for airBaltic or any other airline. Its main use is proving livestock identity and ownership. In August 2025, for example, it was used in livestock flood rescue in Pakistan so farmers could reclaim animals after paper tags washed away. For more on animal identification and travel rules, see the Animal Passport blog.

Bottom line

As of October 2026, the airBaltic pet policy is straightforward but strict: cats and dogs only, 8 kg in the cabin for €70, up to 75 kg in the hold for €130 or €220, advance confirmation required, and no refunds. The airline enforces the container rules; governments enforce the health and identity rules. Check both before you book, and confirm current fees directly with airBaltic because the airline says prices may change at any time.