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CNBC.com My dog Homer |
Pet Airways plans to launch in July, serving six major hubs from New York to Los Angeles, allowing people to fly their pets across the country without putting them in the cargo compartment of a passenger jet.
The airline was started by Dan Wiesel and Alysa Binder after they got tired of being forced to fly their Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe, with their luggage. "On Pet Airways, your pets aren't packages, they're 'pawsengers.'"
Tickets start at $149. The airline is using Beech 1900s turbo prop planes operated by Omaha-based Suburban Air, which have had all of their passenger seats removed to make way for pet carriers. The planes do not have a particularly long range, so a trip from the Big Apple to La-La land will include a few stops. Think of it as an opportunity for Fido to stretch his legs, eat, and take potty breaks en route. Trained "pet attendants" will be on board checking the animals every 15 minutes. You can even drop off your pet a few days in advance of his or her flight so you can arrive at your destination first.
Here's an ad to give you a better idea of how the service is supposed to work:
Can such an enterprise thrive?
Americans are crazy about their animals, spending an estimated $41 billion a year on pet care products. But an airline dedicated solely to flying pets?
We spoke with Pet Airway's Lisa Kroeger, who said that, as a private company, they're not willing to share much information, other than, "We're getting a lot of reservations." They do hope to expand the service beyond New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver and LA to more cities in the US and Canada. No word on start up costs or when they might eventually break even. But they believe the concept will fly with customers. "We make it easy, safe and comfortable," Kroeger says. "Pet attendants watch them at all times and there is fresh air...(our) first priority is to take care of pets."
Any pet? Like snakes on a plane? Heh, heh. Actually, I stole that line from a kid who posted this critique on YouTube:
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