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INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
Carriage of Pets
Carriage of pets/domestic animals (dogs, cats) and birds is carried out on Air Bishkek Airline’s flights by prior agreement with the Airline, therefore, when planning to carry an animal, be sure to inform a sales agent at the time of booking an air ticket or directly when buying an air ticket at an air ticket sales office, but not later than 24 hours before the departure time.
Only domestic animals/pets, - cats, dogs and birds are permitted for carriage on the flights operated by the Air Astana Airline.
A passenger should have a packing (hard plastic or wood) container or a metal cage with air access to carry an animal/bird; their sizes should allow the animal to stand up and turn around. The container (cell) should have a reliable locking device; the bottom of the container (cell) should be covered with absorbent (waterproof) material. Bird cages should be covered with dense light-tight fabric.
- No more than two adult animals may be placed in a container (box) if the weight of each does not exceed 14 kg, and they get along together. The animals of greater weight should be carried in separate containers (cages).
- No more than three animals of the same litter, which are not older than 6 months, may be placed in one container (box).
- Animals and birds carried by Air Bishkek’s flights should only be contained in the luggage compartment of the aircraft.
The free baggage allowance norm does not apply for animals / birds. Carriage of animals / birds should be paid at the excess baggage rate based upon the actual weight of the animal / bird with a container (cage) and regardless of the number of the passenger’s other things.
The animal should always be in a container (cell); the container (cell) should be securely closed to ensure safety during a flight.
Guide dogs on a leash and muzzled accompanying blind passengers are accepted for carriage in the cabin, provided that there is a certificate for such a dog of its special training. Guide dogs are carried free of charge, in excess of the applicable free baggage allowance. They are placed at the back rows of seats of the passenger compartment and should be tied to the owner’s armchair next to his feet.
In order to complete all formalities at the airport of departure related with carrying an animal by air, we recommend passengers to arrive at the airport well in advance, no later than two hours prior departure.
Before checking-in the passenger flying with his animal should undergo veterinary inspection by contacting the departure airport’s veterinary control service.
A passenger should obtain a veterinary certificate of the animal / bird’s health status, which is valid for 1 - 3 days to carry the animal/bird on an international flight.
To carry an animal by air, this animal should be vaccinated against rabies not less than one year and not later than one month prior to carriage.
Prior the flight, we recommend passengers to clarify all the necessary requirements of the country of transit, destination, stop-over, as regards imports and exports of animals by air.
Animals and birds are accepted for carriage, provided that the passenger assumes full responsibility for them.
A passenger should comply with Carrier’s all requirements for carriage of pets and shall indemnify the Carrier against all losses and additional costs in the case if a pet damages an aircraft, health or property of other passengers and crew members.
Recommendations
Preparation of the animal before carriage
- One does not recommend using tranquilizers for pets.
- One recommends feeding animals with light meal about two hours before the departure. Just prior to departure, one should walk the animal.
- Dogs with flat noses such as boxers, bulldogs, pugs and Pekingese are at most susceptible to adverse effects of rarefied air, so you should pay special attention to make sure that the front part of the container is fully open for ventilation. It is very important that these animals have no problems with breathing.
- Puppies and kittens less than 8 weeks of age cannot be carried because of the possible effects of dehydration during air transportation. For kittens under 12 weeks, one encourages submitting a veterinary certificate that would indicate that the animal(s) may be carried, this applies particularly to small animals, which are more susceptible to the effects of dehydration.
- Suckling puppies and kittens may be carried together. Their number depends on the size and strength of each animal. Avoid carrying a weak animal, which can be suppressed by another animal carrying in the same container. Some states have defined the requirements that cats or dogs should be carried separately, except for the carriage of one offspring older than 8 weeks with their mother.
- Familiar items that are inside the container will help an animal to calm down and transfer the flight without undue excitements.
- It is recommended that the animal’s nickname would be somehow shown outside of the container.
Tips on Nutrition (for emergencies)
Typically, the animals do not need extra food for 12 hours after departure.
If you should feed your animal during an unexpected delay then the food should be such so that it does not cause the animal’s sense of overeating.
Requirements for containers / cages to carry animals
These requirements are drawn up in accordance with the IATA Live Animals Regulations.
The illustrations used in this document are given only as examples. The containers designed in accordance with the principles outlined in the document, but looking differently will meet the IATA standards.
The requirements applicable for carrying the following animals:
Cats (domestic) Dogs (domestic)
Materials:
Fiberglass, metal, hard (rigid plastic), welded wire mesh, solid wood or plywood.
The principles of design
Containers that are entirely made of welded wire mesh or wire mesh are not suitable for carriage by air.
Containers made of hard plastic are suitable for carrying the most of dogs’ breeds. If containers have wheels, they should be removed or brought into a stationary state.
Some rigid plastic containers are not suitable for carrying large or very aggressive dogs. For these animals, one allows specially constructed containers of hardwood, metal, plywood or similar material, with two locking devices on each side of the door.
Dimensions
The container’s size should such, that each animal placing in the container, would have plenty of space, could get up to full height, turn around freely, stand, sit and have a lie in a natural position.
Frame
For wooden containers, one allows a skeleton made of wooden bars with dimensions not less than 2,5 cm x 7,5 cm, connected together by bolts or screws, and the sides of the container are fastened to this skeleton.
The parties
For plastic containers, all the components of the design should be in place and properly installed.
For the outer sides of wooden containers, plywood of at least 12mm (1.2 inches) or equivalent material should be used. The sides should be solid with adequate ventilation, as indicated in these requirements. The container’s internal surfaces should be smooth without any protrusions, which the animal would be able to bite or scratch, as this would somehow damage the integrity of the container.
One side of the container should be completely intended for ventilation, at the same time, it should be closed by a bar, welded wire mesh or smooth metal mesh, which is securely attached to the container so that the animal could not take it off, remove or tear.
Arrangements for carrying /handles
Container should have arrangements for carrying located in the middle of each of the long sides of the container during the entire length.
Bottom
The bottom should be firm and water-resistant.
The upper part (roof)
The upper part should be firm, however, one allows having vent holes on entire surface if they do not harm the integrity and do not reduce the cover’s strength.
Door
A container’s door should be one of the sides. It may be both retractable and attached to the hinges. Large doors should have two or three additional locks or other secure methods of fastening.
The door should be made of plastic, welding metal or castings with sufficient sizes and of sufficient thickness so that the animal could not bend it or deform. The grid size should be such that neither the nose nor the paws of the animal would pass through it to prevent damage for both the animal and the container.
The doors made of plastic materials are allowed, provided that the locks and fasteners made of metal of sufficient thickness. For hard plastic containers, the door pins should go through the entire length of the door, and they should overhang for at least 1.6 cm from the top and bottom of the container’s door (the horizontal section).
The air carrier should make sure that all parts and fasteners are in the right places, and workable.
Ventilation
Ventilation is provided through one opened side (which may be the door) and due to the vents’ sizes not less than 2.5 cm located at the top of the opposite side of the door, and the remaining two sides of the container at a distance of 10 cm from each other (from the axis to axis).
In the case if containers are specially made for large dogs, the opened side of the container should be covered with a fine metal grid or doubled weld mesh with some space (the distance between the grids) of 1cm.
The total area of ventilation shall be not less than 16% of the total surface of all four sides. One allows having additional holes on the roof or on the sides of the container, or holes, covered by a wider net in order to increase the ventilation effect.
All openings must be such that neither the nose nor the paws of the animal would pass through them in order to prevent damage for both the animal and the container. In the case of carrying cats or small dogs, you may probably need to close the holes with grid. It is very important that there were no protrusions that the animal would be able to bite or scratch, which would somehow damage the integrity of the container.
Food and water in a container
The container for water may be put inside the container, with an access from the outside to replenish. The container with food (to be used in the case if a flight is delayed) should be closed and may be located both inside and outside the container.
- At maximum, two adult animals can be placed in one container if the weight of each does not exceed 14 kg, and they get along together. The larger animals should be carried in separate containers.