Animals
The promotional discount of 20 % for transporting a dog or a cat in the aircraft cabin will be automatically applied at all Croatia Airlines sales offices for international flights from November 1st 2025 until March 31st 2026. During the promotional period, instead of two, up to three pets may travel in the aircraft cabin. It is not possible to book transport for your pet via our website, so we kindly ask you to contact our colleagues via the email address: contact@croatiaairlines.hr.
Croatia Airlines allows passengers to travel with pets (dogs or cats) on its flights. Depending on the type of pet, their size and weight, as well as regulations in other countries (and on connecting airlines), transport is possible either in the passenger cabin or in the checked baggage compartment. Only dogs and cats travelling with their owners on the same flight may be transported on Croatia Airlines aircraft. For the transport of other types of pets, please contact cargo@croatiaairlines.hr.
Before you travel
To ensure a comfortable journey for both you and your pet, make sure you have the right information and all the required documentation for your dog or cat.
Required documentation for pet transport:
- A valid Pet Passport
- Microchip or clearly legible tattoo
- Pet health certificate
- Entry/exit permits
* For more detailed information on the documentation required when travelling with pets, please click here.
Croatia Airlines reserves the right to check:
- the animal´s behaviour at the time of acceptance
- that the container meets the requirements to ensure a safe transport throughout the whole journey.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Passengers must collect all the information about regulations of the country they are travelling to and make sure they possess the required documents. For information on entry requirements for pets in other countries, please click here.
Croatia Airlines does not transport pets on flights from Croatia to the UK but on flights from UK to Croatia Croatia Airlines does transport pets (except London Gatwick airport).
Croatia Airlines does not transport pets in the baggage compartment on flights from Ireland to Croatia but on flights from Croatia to Ireland, Croatia Airlines does transport pets.
The request on transport of pets in the cargo hold as excess/checked baggage on flights OU4001 and OU4002 is currently not possible.
pets can be transported on Croatia Airlines flights only if their owner is on the same flight.
Pets in the passenger cabin
Only cats and dogs (accompanying a passenger) can be transported in the passenger cabin, unless it is forbidden by the state where the pets are transported to and provided the Croatia Airlines rules and regulations are complied with. It is allowed to accept only two pets, two dogs or two cats, on the same flight, but one dog and one cat cannot be accepted.
In order to travel in the passenger cabin, your pet must:
- be clean, healthy, harmless and odour-free
- not be pregnant,
- be calm so as not to disturb other passengers.
Pet transport container in the passenger cabin
Each container must be suitable for the type of pet being transported and spacious enough to allow the animal to stand upright, sit, lie down in a natural position and move around comfortably.
Pets have to be transported in a proper transporter soft bag.
Bag characteristics:
- The size of the transporter bag is limited and its dimensions cannot exceed 118 cm.
- The bottom of the bag has to be water-resistant.
- The maximum weight of the bag with the pet is 8 kg.
- Only one transporter bag with one animal is allowed per passenger.
- The bag with the pet must be stowed on the floor under the seat (including head and tail) in front of the passenger for the whole duration of the flight.
*A hard-shell container for pets will be accepted on the flight (if the passenger is transferring or on the return journey and has already travelled with the hard-shell container) provided that it can be adequately stowed during the flight and the dimensions of the container do not exceed the limits.
Transfer charges for pets in the passenger cabin
It is necessary to make a reservation in advance and pet transport is always charged additionally. It is not possible to book this service on our website. Please contact one of our sales offices or Contact Center. Offices in Croatia can charge you only in the local currency (EUR). Credit cards are accepted.
| Transporter | Sum of dimensions up to 118cm |
| Domestic flights | 32 € + 25 % VAT |
| International flights (within Europe) | 50 € (40 € during the promotional period) |
| International flights (outside Europe) | 70€ |
Refund for pets Charges / Fees are permitted before departure only. After departure refund is not permitted.
For animal transport in the passenger cabin on international flights bought on the day of departure in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina an additional charge of 10 EURwill apply.
Pets in the baggage compartment
Pets that cannot be transported in the passenger cabin due to their size, are to be transported in the baggage compartment if certain conditions are met. The weight of the animal as well as the dimensions of the container / cage must be stated when booking this service. The dimensions of the container must comply with the IATA (International Air Transport Association) standard. Find out how to prepare your pet for a flight.
In order to travel in the checked baggage compartment, your pet must:
- be in good general condition,
- not have any injuries or bandages
- not be pregnant
- be at least 12 weeks old; 15 weeks for travel to/from Germany and 16 weeks for travel to the USA
Pet transport container in the checked baggage compartment
Each pet transported in a container must have enough space to stand, sit upright, lie down in a natural position and turn around while standing. To determine the correct size of the container for your pet, you need to take its length and height measurements.
- Container length = A + 1/2 B
- Container width = C x 2
- Container height E = D + base
Note: When two animals are transported in the same container, the width is calculated as C x 3, and for three animals as C x 4. The height and length are calculated in the same way as for a single animal.
Note: Every container used for pet transport must comply with the standards set out in the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR). As the operating carrier, Croatia Airlines reserves the right to impose additional restrictions on the transport of pets in the cargo hold, in accordance with international standards and safety guidelines.
Requirements for the transporter:
- the animal must be able to stand with its head extended and must have enough space to move
- feeding and watering facilities must be available
- it must be leakproof and the floor must be covered with absorbent material
- it shall be ventilated on at least 3 sides
- it has to be solid and escape-proof.
One transporter can hold up to:
- 3 puppies or kittens from the same litter, in an adequate transport container weighing max. 8kg each
- maximum of 2 adult pets up to 14kg each, that are used to each other in an adequate transport container.
All other types of pets are transported as cargo.
Transfer charges for pets in the baggage compartment
Pets are not included in the free baggage allowance and their transportation is charged depending on the size of the container (categories: medium and large) and the type of flight.
| Transporter | 80x55x55 cm | 125x75x85 cm |
| Domestic flights | 40 € + 25 % VAT | 56 € + 25 % VAT |
| International flights (within Europe) | 100 € | 200 € |
| International flights (outside Europe) | 150 € | 300 € |
Transportation of pets in the baggage compartment, in container size up to 125x75x85 cm is possible only in the Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and Airbus A220.
For animal transport in the baggage compartment on international flights bought on the day of departure in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina an additional charge of 10 EUR will apply.
Larger dogs weighing more than 18 kg including the container, can only be accepted for transport in the baggage/cargo compartments as excess/checked baggage (AVIH) or cargo (AVI).
Pet container for dogs over 18 kg
Larger dogs weighing more than 18 kg must be transported in a CR1 container made of metal, synthetic materials and welded wire mesh, or in a CR82 container. Containers made of rigid plastics are not permitted.
For dogs that, together with their transport container, exceed a total weight of 18 kg, it is required that the container be either:
- constructed of high-strength synthetic materials, metal, or wood, or
- fully compliant with the specifications outlined in the IATA CR-82 standard.
Please note that containers made of so-called hard plastic (e.g. HDPE, PP, etc.), while generally acceptable for smaller dogs, are not considered safe for larger dogs due to the increased risk of deformation, breakage, or unintended opening during handling. For this reason, Croatia Airlines applies stricter technical requirements for the carriage of larger dogs, regardless of any confirmations or recommendations issued by external institutions or authorities.
CR1 container
- 1. Food and water container with external access
- 2. Space bar
- 3. Ventilation openings
- 4. Rear side of the container
- 5. Mandatory labels
CR82 container
- 1. Food and water container with external access
- 2. Space bar
- 3. Ventilation openings
- 4. Rear side of the container
- 5. Mandatory labels
- 6. Forklift spacers
- 7. Food and water container with external access
- 8. Waste tray
- 9. Welded mesh / wire grid
Acceptable for dogs over 18 kg
- Metal crate (steel or aluminium) – welded frame, metal door.
- Wooden crate made of plywood with thickness ≥ 12 mm, reinforced with screws and metal doors.
- Composite crate made of fiberglass with integrated metal mesh/doors (no plastic doors or connecting parts).
Unacceptable
- Standard Petmate™/VariKennel™ and similar HDPE/PP crates with plastic/metal doors.
- Any carrier containing wheels, foldable/plastic latches, thin connecting rods, or decorative openings.
Brachycepahlic animals (dogs and cats with very short nose) can not be transported in cargo holds on flights operated by Croatia Airlines. They can be accepted only in passenger cabin, provided they meet requirements (weight with the cage up to 8 kg, dimensions of the cage cannot exceed 115 cm).
The table below shows the dogs and cats breeds not acceptable in the baggage compartment:
| Animals | Breeds |
|---|---|
| Dogs | Affenpinscher, Bulldog (all breeds except American Bulldog), Pug (all breeds), American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Japanese Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Pekinese, Pit Bull, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
| Cats | British Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan cat, Persian cat, Scottish Fold |
The following breeds are classified as fighting dog breeds: American Bulldog, Caucasian Owtscharka, Dogo Argentino, Karabash (Kangal), Rottweiler and Doberman.
Fighting dogs and mixed breeds of fighting dogs may only be accepted in an appropriate container (IATA CR82 - Container Requirement 82):
- the container has to fulfil the IATA Live Animals Regulation container requirement 82)
- the container or crate must be constructed of wood, metal, synthetic materials, weld mesh and wire mesh
- the height of the container must allow the animal to stand in a natural position with its head extended and the width must permit it to turn around and lie down comfortably
- the frame must be made from solid wood or metal parts bolted or screwed together
- the sides and doors must be made of metal or solid wood, the front of the container must be constructed of weld mesh
- the opening must be made of heavy-duty wire mesh, metal or reinforced wood and must have a secure means of fastening that cannot be opened accidentally
- the container openings must be small enough to ensure that the animal cannot get any part of its body through them, and the container must ensure protection against bites or scratches by the animal.
Detailed information and container specifications can be found at the link.
Trained service dogs (seeing eye dogs, hearing aid trained dogs, specially trained dogs to assist a person with disability, rescue dogs and search dogs):
- travel free of charge
- are accepted for transport in the passenger cabin, on a leash
- a reservation must be made in advance
- is subject to safety related limits in weight and size
- is in principle max. allowed weight 25kg
- the passenger travelling with a service animal is obliged to bring a muzzle in case it is needed for safety reasons.
A guide dog that accompanies deaf, blind or passenger with paraplegia, is accepted free of charge. The dog has to be properly harnessed, but not muzzled or caged. It does not occupy a seat, and it is not allowed to move around the cabin.
For additional information, please contact one of Croatia Airlines sales offices.
In order to transport your pet to Ireland, it must:
- have a valid EU pet passport or EU health certificate
- be microchipped
- have a valid rabies vaccination
- be administered tapeworm treatment (for dogs only)
- be accompanied by its owner.
Please find more details here.