A woman holds her bulldog. [Photo by Chen Wei/Tide News]

As the Spring Festival travel rush peaked, Hangzhou International Airport saw a sharp rise in passengers flying with their pets on Feb 9. Compared with previous years, more travelers are choosing to bring their furry companions home by air.

A young passenger working in Ningbo said she bought an extra seat — costing just over 2,000 yuan ($289) — for her two-year-old bulldog to fly with her to Yinchuan, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, noting that keeping her dog nearby felt more reassuring than boarding it for nearly 20 days during the holiday.

Airport officials said the "pets in cabin" service, launched in June 2025, is now available during the Spring Festival travel season for the first time. Currently offered on selected domestic flights operated by China Southern, Hainan Airlines and Capital Airlines, the service allows pets to travel either in the cabin or as checked cargo.

Demand has surged: pet flights once averaged only one or two per day, but recently climbed to around 50. On Feb 9 alone, nearly 90 pets departed from Hangzhou International Airport, including more than 30 traveling in the cabin with their owners.

Fees vary by airline, pet weight and whether a separate seat is booked. Passengers must use airline-approved carriers and present valid quarantine and vaccination certificates when checking in. At present, only domesticated cats and dogs are eligible for in-cabin travel.

Meanwhile, more pets are traveling by high-speed rail. China Railway has expanded its pet transport pilot to 110 stations and 170 train services, allowing passengers to book pet shipping via the 12306 app under specified conditions.

An airline staff member helps a woman put her bulldog into the cabin. [Photo by Chen Wei/Tide News]