Four dogs made history as the first pets to travel in the passenger cabin on a domestic flight in Australia. They were on a Virgin Australia flight from Melbourne to the Gold Coast on Thursday. This flight marks the beginning of a three-and-a-half-month trial that allows pet owners to bring their animals into the cabin instead of having them travel in the luggage hold.

During this trial, Virgin Australia will permit a maximum of four dogs or cats weighing under 8 kilograms on select flights between Melbourne and the Gold and Sunshine Coast airports. The trial, which was announced last month, is set to run until January 30, 2026. The airline hopes to expand this service to all eligible domestic flights by the end of next year.

Elizabeth Minogue, Virgin's chief marketing officer, expressed excitement about the new service. "This has been a long time coming for us and we've put a lot of thought and effort into the execution of getting pets on board with us," she said. Minogue also noted the importance of considering the comfort of other passengers who may not want to sit near animals.

To address these concerns, pets traveling in the cabin must remain in carriers for the entire flight. They will be seated under window seats in rows 18 and 20. Minogue added, "When [other passengers] go to book, they can see where the pets are and can choose to sit at the front or the back of the aircraft."

Among the first pets on board was Monty, a two-year-old Pomeranian. His owner, Assem Nachabe, shared that Monty was "a little rattled" during take-off but soon calmed down. Nachabe expressed enthusiasm for the new service, stating, "It's an awesome idea … we're looking forward to taking him with us inside the cabin for many flights to come."

Also on the inaugural flight was Julija Kinghorn with her six-month-old Papillon, Polly. Kinghorn remarked on the busy airport environment, saying, "There's so much movement and luggage of all shapes and sizes that I don't think I even got a second look with Polly in the crate [at the airport]."

The idea of allowing pets in passenger cabins is not new. Several major European airlines have permitted cats and dogs in cabins for years. Many American airlines also allow passengers to carry pets of a certain size in the cabin on domestic flights, as well as to Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Adam Rowe, chief commercial officer for Queensland Airports Limited, acknowledged that while pets on planes is common in other regions, this trial is crucial for assessing its feasibility in Australia. "It's a first for Australia, so it's important that we go through the process to make sure that we are documenting and laying out plans as carefully as we can for the environment we work in," Rowe said.

Nachabe and Kinghorn, along with their dogs, were returning to Melbourne from the Gold Coast on Thursday afternoon, marking a new chapter in air travel for pet owners in Australia.