Virgin Australia will begin a trial run of allowing dogs and cats to fly with their owners, in a move the airline expects will be welcomed by pet owners.

From Wednesday, passengers can book a place for their animals on flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast and Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, at the introductory price of $149 per animal, per one-way trip.

After January 30, the service will be available across all Virgin’s domestic flights.

“With almost 70 per cent of households owning a pet, we expect the service to be embraced by pet lovers all around the country,” said chief executive Dave Emerson in a statement.

“Beyond convenience for pet owners, the service is also set to boost the pet-friendly travel sector, including hotels and tourism operators.”

To “ensure a comfortab

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