Air Malta allows assistance dogs on board with owners

Air Malta, the state-owned airline company of the Maltese Islands, announced on Monday that recognized Assistance Dogs include guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs, have now been allowed to travel with their owners on all of its flights.

"If you or another passenger require a guide dog, you are welcome to bring it on board the cabin under certain conditions for the sake of other passengers", the newly updated terms of conditions of Carriage of Assistance Dogs read.

"Your guide dog, together with containers and food, will be carried free of charge in addition to the normal free baggage allowance," the document said.

The updated policy was drawn up after discussions held between Leone Sciberras, Chairman of the Malta Guide Dogs Foundation (MGDF), and Air Malta's Passenger Handling Executive.

Sciberras said when Air Malta first allowed guide dogs to travel in the cabin of their flights, there were very few such dogs in Malta but the figure has now gone up to 13 in Malta and Gozo, and that figure is set to rise in the coming years.

"We thank Air Malta for having made this step forward and I have no doubt that the policy can be reviewed to keep up with the times," he said. Endit