Pets grounded by pandemic as flights are cut and costs soar

A menagerie of household pets, from dogs and cats to ferrets and budgies, has been left stranded around the world because of cancelled flights and skyrocketing air freight costs during the pandemic. People’s pets normally travel in a part of the aircraft hold that is specially heated, pressurised and darkened to keep them calm. But because airlines operated only half the flights they normally would last year, according to airline data company Cirium, and planes that are still flying prioritise essential cargo such as medical supplies and manufacturing equipment, prices have shot up and pets have gone to the back of the queue. One airline quoted $6,500 to fly a dog from Los Angeles to London, three times the usual cost, according to one pet transportation company. Another unfortunate canine pal was kicked off a flight in Brunei after it had already been loaded, to be replaced by a Saudi prince’s cats, said Bob Ghandour, the owner of PetAirUK, another pet travel company. The labrador had to wait six weeks for the next available flight. Story has more.<br/>