Hong Kong (CNN) — “Private Jet for Your Pet” is the kind of phrase you might expect to hear from movie stars and media tycoons.
But in Hong Kong in 2022, it’s likely that it’s the average person looking at this very rare expense.
Many people moving away from the financial center are unable to secure flights from the city for dogs and cats, and money to cover the cost of desperate pet parents renting charter planes. Is connected to an online group trying to pool.
Olga Radlinska says her company has jetted dogs of all sizes.
L’VOYAGE
She says Top Stars has shifted much of its business from private flights for executives to group rentals for pet flights.
“People need to move in one direction and pets need to move,” she says. “Fur parents may have already moved, but their pets are still here.”
The customers of these chartered companies have also changed. Working-class and middle-class people are now anxious for options in cities where the civil aviation industry is committed to sustaining life.
Radlynska estimates that her company’s pet transport business has grown “700%” since the pandemic began. Less than 1% are trying to take their pets to Hong Kong.
Life Travel, another Hong Kong-based commercial airline, is currently telling CNN that 98% of its flights are transfer flights. Prior to the pandemic, the main offering was charter with Japan. But now, we’re shifting our focus to the relocation business, operating one way from Hong Kong to Japan, the United Kingdom and Taiwan.
On the other hand, the busiest routes of the top stars are, in order, London, Singapore, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Some Hong Kong commercial airlines have stated that January 2022 will be the largest month in history for pets.
Life Travel Limited
It’s not just the constant changes in Covid’s travel restrictions that are influencing pet travel. Some commercial airlines have strict policies on how to move animals. Some airlines require large animals to be placed in kennels or freighted. Also, some airlines do not want to risk flying a pointed breed, such as a popular breed. French bulldog because of the high probability of empty health problems.
Howard of Royage had a lot of experience flying pets on private planes before the pandemic, but pet owners became more and more desperate as Hong Kong canceled flights and banned various airlines. I’m telling CNN that.
“Pets are part of the family,” she says. “Many people have been waiting for a plane for 12 months. From what I understand, there are thousands of animals (in Hong Kong) waiting to fly to their owners.”
She says half of L’Voyage’s business is now pet-related.
Commercial airlines like L’Voyage work closely with pet owners to microchip the animals, have all the correct documents, are certified carriers of the correct size, and are required for flight. Make sure you have a good vaccination.
This process can be difficult, and commercial airlines do not always have the bandwidth to actually support their customers.
“At this point, we are providing support to fill gaps that airlines cannot fill,” says Howard.
While he is pleased that his business is floating in difficult times for the travel industry, Radlinska says it is not worth the profit from the misery of others.
“On the business side, it was very positive, but at the same time, it’s basically devastating to see people evacuating Hong Kong with their pets, and they want to leave yesterday.”
CNN’s Jadyn Sham and Telee Rebane contributed to the report.
