Traveling with Pets

• Animals that do not meet the requirements for transportation inside the cabin or that exceed the space available in the cabin, will be transported in the cargo hold, in climate-controlled compartment;
• Animals should be carried only in properly sealed containers;
• Containers must be strong, secure and rigid;
• The maximum dimensions for transportation in hold on SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines flights are 100 cm (length) x 78 cm (width) x 69 cm (height), but can be under depending on the length, width and height of your pet;
• Handling bars and handles must be included in the construction of the container so that it can be safely handled and loaded;
• Containers must be properly ventilated to a correct air circulation;
• One end of the container (such as the door) must be open and covered with bars, welded mesh or soft expanded metal firmly fixed to the container so that the animal isn’t able to move it;
• Doors must be completely secure and reinforced to prevent any accidental opening.

• Construction materials: Fiberglass, rigid plastic, metal, solid wood or plywood.

A = Animal’s length from the nose to the tail’s root;
B = Height from the ground to the elbow;
C = Distance between shoulders;
D = Animal’s height in position (top of the head for pets with non-erect ears up - the tips of the ears for pets with erect ears).

- The container’s length must be equal to: A + 1/2 B. (domestic flights) A + B (international flights);
- The width of the container must be equal to Cx2 (domestic flights) and (C + 3cm) x 2 (international flights);
- The height (flat or rounded top) must be equal to D (domestic flights) and D +7cm (international flights).

1 = Handles
2 = Side ventilation
3 = Locking pins
4 = Handle bars
5 = Plastic brackets

• Plastic doors are allowed, provided that the hinges and pins are made of metal and sufficiently thickened to ensure their attachment;
• Large doors require additional hinges and two or three secure fixation methods to be totally safe (plastic brackets or pins);
• Ventilation openings must be small enough to prevent that no part of the animal's body contacts with the exterior;
• If the container has wheels, they must be removed or blocked;
• The sides of the container must be solid and must contain holes or mesh for proper ventilation;
• The inside must be smooth and without protrusions that the animal can bite or scratch, causing any kind of damage or compromising the security of the container;
• The upper part of the container must be solid, but ventilation holes are allowed over the entire surface, as long as the safety of the container is not compromised;
• Food and water containers must be inside the container with access from the outside to use in case of delays or in transfer/stopovers, following the indications of assistance provided by the owner or an authorized person. If sealed, an extra dose of food should be strapped to the outside of the container;
• Fish transportation must be carried out in a strong plastic bag inserted in containers made of water resistant material, such as plastic, wood, expanded polystyrene or Styrofoam;
• Certain species require reinforced or metal containers due to its size and weight.

List of animal species accepted for transport in the cargo compartment:

• Dogs, cats, and ferrets;
• Other small domestic animals (guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, rabbits, tortoises/turtles, aquarium fish, and some species of birds).

Transport of brachycephalic breeds of dogs and cats (snub nosed breeds)

The anatomy of dogs and cats of breeds with a flat nose disposes the occurrence of respiratory problems. Passengers traveling with pets of these breeds should be familiar with their special needs and should be aware of the possible risks involved in the trip.

• On flights originating or destined at an airport in the USA, it is not necessary to present your assistance dog's training certificate. However, your assistance dog must be trained to specifically assist a person with a disability and to behave adequately in public. This must be attested on specific forms, as established by the U.S. DOT (U.S. Department of Transportation), that must be completed and submitted to info@sata.pt or delivered by a hard copy when booking or up to 48 hours before the travel date. Namely, the U.S. DOT form attesting to the animal’s health, behavior, and training ‌, and (2) a U.S. DOT form attesting that the animal can either not relieve itself or can relieve itself in a sanitary manner if the animal will be on a flight that is 8 or more hours.
   

Note: For bookings made within 48 hours, documentation can be delivered to the airport.
 

Important info:It is a Federal crime to make materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements, entries, or representations knowingly and willfully on the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form to secure disability accommodations provided under the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (18 U.S.C. § 1001).

If the assistance dog cannot be accommodated in the cabin (at the passenger's foot space and without invading another passenger's space ) due to its size, considering the dimensions and characteristics of the aircraft, the passenger is presented with the following options:

• The dog will be transported, free of charge, in the hold, as AVIH; or
• If, due to the size of the service dog, an extra seat is needed and/or requested by the passenger to be transported in the cabin, considering that the dog must not occupy the space of another passenger , SATA Azores Airlines commits to providing the extra seat free of charge if it is available. If the passenger wants to guarantee the extra seat in advance can do so by purchasing it; or
• An adequate seat should be selected that offers space for the dog. If the legroom rows (except emergency rows) are the seats that offer more space for the dog and the passenger can travel comfortably and safely, at the time of the service confirmation they will be allocated, free of charge, if available. If not, and appealing to your best comprehension and awareness that, for larger trained service dogs, we may need to re-accommodate you if the animal invades other passengers’ space or extends into aisles. In these cases, it will be offered the options of:
  • The dog will be transported, free of charge, in the hold, as AVIH*, or
  • Upgrade to Comfort Class if the legroom is available, subject to the fare difference (the change penalty associated with the fare does not apply); or
  • Travel on a later flight with seat availability, free of charge for the change associated with the purchased fare.

2. Be trained to behave in public, and they will not be permitted in the cabin if they display any form of disruptive behavior that cannot be successfully corrected or controlled, including but not limited to:

• Growling;
• Biting or attempting to bite;
• Jumping on or lunging at people;
• Barking excessively, not in response to a handler’s need or distress
• Running freely around and inside the aircraft or the boarding gate area;
• Urinate and defecate in the cabin or in the boarding gates area.
   

If this behavior is observed at any point during your journey and isn't corrected or controlled, the animal will be considered a pet. All requirements and applicable fees will apply.
 

*To travel in the hold, a pet carrier should be used. See Traveling with Pets | Azores Airlines.

• Remain attached with a leash, adequately fastened to the passenger's seat belt, throughout the flight;
• Have space to safely change position;
• Not interfere with the space and well-being of the passenger traveling in the neighbor seat, and for this reason, the voluntary use of a muzzle is recommended for medium and large dogs. Furthermore, the voluntary wear of identification like an assistance dog (such as a harness, vest, badge, etc.) is recommended to inform the other passengers that it is a service animal.
   

The passenger must present at the airport the applicable assistance dog documentation, as requested by U.S. DOT, and the documentation required by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for the entry of dogs into the USA - Bringing a Dog into the U.S. | Importation | CDC. Be aware that if you have any connection flight in your itinerary, the documentation and the requirements may vary depending on the origin and destination of the flight while complying with the health requirements and local regulations. See Traveling with Pets | Azores Airlines.

If you wish to travel with your assistance dog, we recommend that you notify us at the time of booking or, at the latest, 48 hours before the departure time of your flight. The required documentation ⁽¹⁾ must be handed in where you made your booking or sent to info@sata.pt, and your assistance dog's behavior will be assessed at the airport to ensure that you are aware of the safety requirements for final approval of its transport. Please be aware that assistance dogs cannot be carried on your lap and cannot be allocated an emergency row on board.

Categories of assistance dogs accompanying passengers with disabilities:

• Guide dog (to assist people with visual impairment);
• Hearing dog (to assist hearing-impaired people);
• Service dog (to assist people with mental, organic, or motor disabilities).

• ⁽¹⁾ In the United Kingdom, assistance dog status is granted to dogs that have been bred and trained in accredited national or international establishments. Please note that you must present a card or certificate identifying the animal as an assistance dog and proving that it has been trained, regardless of breed, by an accredited member establishment of the following organizations:
   
  • Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
  • International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)
     
• Assistance dogs must visibly carry a badge that classifies them as such;
   
• At the airport, the passenger must present the applicable assistance dog documentation, which may vary depending on the origin and destination of the flight, while complying with the health requirements.
   
• ⁽¹⁾ Due to the United Kingdom entry regulations (www.gov.uk), you must contact and obtain pre-approval from the UK Animal Reception Center at least 72 hours before your flight. You will be requested to show your pre-approval letter before boarding your flight to the United Kingdom. If you do not comply with this requirement, we will not be able to accept you for travel to the United Kingdom.

For safety reasons related to the structure of our aircraft and the safe transport of assistance dogs, passengers, and crew members, the following specific conditions of transport exist according to weight:

• Dogs up to 11 kg – will be accommodated on the floor, in the passenger's window seat (at the owner's feet). 
   
• Dogs between 11 kg and 25 kg – will be accommodated on the floor, at your feet, in a window seat. On flights operated by Azores Airlines, they should preferably be allocated a window seat in the first row of Economy or Comfort class. If you are traveling with someone, you will be assigned a window seat, and your companion will be seated next to you. 
   
• Dogs between 25 kg and 40 kg – will be accommodated on the floor, at your feet, in a window seat. On flights operated by Azores Airlines, they should preferably be allocated a window seat in the first row of Economy or Comfort class. If traveling accompanied, you will be assigned a window seat, and your companion will be seated next to you.
  If you are traveling alone and considering that the assistance dog must not occupy the space of another passenger, it can only be transported in the cabin with an extra seat, with the dog being accommodated on the floor of the window seat and you being assigned the seat next to it.
  SATA Azores Airlines commits to providing the extra seat free of charge if it is available 24 hours before the flight. If you wish to guarantee the extra seat in advance, you can do so by purchasing it.
   
• Dogs over 40 kg – acceptance in the cabin will be analyzed case-by-case.
  *If there is no room in the cabin to accommodate the assistance dog and the passenger safely and comfortably, given the dimensions and characteristics of the aircraft, you will be offered the following options:
  • The dog will be transported, free of charge, in the hold as AVIH; or
  • Travel on a later flight with seat availability, free of charge for the change associated with the purchased fare.

On board, the assistance dog must:

• Remain attached with a leash, properly fastened to the passenger seat belt, throughout the flight;
• Have space to safely change position;
• Not interfere with the space and well-being of the passenger traveling in the neighbor seat, and for this reason, the voluntary use of a muzzle is recommended for medium and large dogs.

 On arrival in the United Kingdom, you must wait for the assistance teams at your destination before exiting the plane, who will meet you and accompany you to the Animal Reception Center.

European Flights

It’s necessary to remark that on flights to/from the European Union (except countries where specific rules apply as the United Kingdom, Swedish and Malta), according to Reg. EU 998/2003, passengers carrying Dogs, Cats and Ferrets over 3 months or more must present:

• Electronic identification by micro chipping or legible tattoo (preferably applied before July 3rd, 2011). Any vaccination against rabies before the identification is not considered valid;
• Proof of valid anti rabid vaccination or revaccination done when the animal was at least 3 months old. The anti-rabies vaccination will be considered valid 21 days after completing the primary vaccination or immediately after revaccination, as long as the protocols and the expiration periods required by the manufacturer are respected.

For other animals: Health certificate issued by a veterinarian authorized by the competent authority stating that the animal has all health conditions and is fit to travel to the final destination, issued within 5 days before the scheduled departure date.

Note: SATA Azores Airlines is not authorized to transport live animals to/from United Kingdom in the aircraft cabin and cargo compartments.

Flights originating in Third Countries and returning to Portugal

When the animals originate from a country or territory without any risk of rabies (Canada, United States of America and others):

• Electronic identification by micro chipping or legible tattoo (preferably applied before July 3rd, 2011). Any vaccination against rabies before the identification is not considered valid;
• Proof of valid anti rabid vaccination or revaccination, made when the animal was at least 3 months old. The anti-rabies vaccination will be considered valid 21 days after the completion of the primary vaccination or immediately after revaccination, as long as the protocols and the expiration periods required by the manufacturer are respected.
• Health certificate validated by an official authority if it was filled by an authorized veterinarian when coming from third countries.

Note: The reintroduction of animals who have moved to countries outside the EU is allowed with the presentation of the Pet Passport, avoiding the achievement of an official certificate in those countries. However, it is necessary to comply with the health conditions established in those countries and conduct blood analysis for verification of the number of antibodies with respect to the disease (antibody titration), if applicable. In this case, before departing from Portugal or from another UE country, the passport must be filled by an authorized veterinarian.

- The control of these animals in structures called Travelers' Entry Points (ports and airports) is mandatory. The owner must notify the competent authority in the Traveler’s Entry Point in writing. The notification must be made by the owner or authorized person, designated and authorized through a form, available at www.dgv.min-agricultura.pt, completed in the 48 hours before the arrival of the animals.

• An authorization from the DGAV (Portuguese National Authority for Animal Health) validating the required health conditions for the transportation of the species is necessary.
• Specific health documentation as a health certificate stating, when applicable, the health conditions required by the DGAV (Portuguese National Authority for Animal Health).

The requirements for entry and import of pets vary depending on the destination, type of animal and country of origin.
Before booking for your pet, consult the authorities of the country of destination.
If your pet has to return to Portugal, take into account the requirements described above, on flights originating in Third Countries and returning to Portugal.

• United States of America
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - www.aphis.usda.gov
  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - www.cdc.gov
  • Serviço Nacional de importação/ exportação - Telefone: (301) 851-3300 / e-mail: VS.Live.Animal.Import.Export@aphis.usda.gov
• Canada
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) - inspection.gc.ca
• Europe, Portugal mainland, the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde
  • Direção de Serviços de Alimentação e Veterinária Regionais – www.dgav.pt
  • Autoridade Nacional de Conservação da Natureza, o Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF) - www.icnf.pt

When animals originate from a country or territory with risk of rabies (Brazil, Venezuela, Ukraine, Africa, and others), in addition to the valid identification and the anti-rabid vaccination, it’s also necessary:

• Blood test for checking the number of sufficient antibodies for rabies (carried out in laboratories approved by the EU, at least 1 month after vaccination against rabies, whether it’s the first time the animal is vaccinated, whether it’s a revaccination);
• Compliance with a period of 3 months until the animals are moved to Portugal, counting from the date of blood collection for the aforementioned analysis. (However, this period of 3 months does not apply to the return of an animal that has left the community space with this analysis carried out with a favorable result, provided that the conditions mentioned above are met);
• Health certificate validated by an official authority, if it was filled by an authorized veterinarian when coming from third countries.
• The control of these animals in structures called Travelers' Entry Points (ports and airports) is mandatory. The owner must notify the competent authority in the Traveler’s Entry Point in writing. The notification must be made by the owner or authorized person, designated and authorized through a form, available at www.dgv.min-agricultura.pt, completed in the 48 hours before the arrival of the animals.

• Values indicated above will be charged per route and in the local currency.
• If your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, other rules may apply. On trips involving flights operated by SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines, Azores Airlines rules apply.

• Values indicated above will be charged per route and in the local currency.
• If your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, other rules may apply. On trips involving flights operated by SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines, Azores Airlines rules apply.

• Values indicated above will be charged per route and in the local currency.
• If your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, other rules may apply. On trips involving flights operated by SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines, Azores Airlines rules apply.