©William Warby via Unsplash
Anyone who lives with a rabbit knows: it's not 'just an animal'. It's quiet, sensitive, and forms habits. And for that very reason, the idea of leaving it alone when you go on a trip can become a real problem, and not just an emotional one. In recent months, something has started to change in the world of aviation.
It's not a revolution
This is not a revolution, nor is it a free-for-all. Rather, it's a series of small but significant glimpses that testify to a change in sensitivity among people who regard animals as part of their family and not as 'special baggage'.
Indeed, the case of rabbits traveling in the airplane cabin has returned to center stage.
The case that has received the most resonance is the one from the United States. Alaska Airlines decided to retrace its steps and allowed rabbits to be transported in the passenger cabin again, starting January 2025. The decision came after protests from customers and reports from animal welfare organizations, which had criticized an earlier tightening announced for the middle of this year.
However, the green light is not entirely lit. Rabbits may only travel in soft carry-on bags, which are placed under the seat, with advance reservations and payment of a fee that varies depending on the route. There is one clarification that weighs more heavily than it seems: the policy applies only to flights within the continental United States and to Alaska, while Hawaii and international routes are excluded. The fine print shows how important the destination is, often more than the animal itself.
In Europe, there are a few openings, but they remain the exception rather than the rule
If we go to the old continent, the picture is not much different. Some airlines have decided to add rabbits to the list of small animals allowed in the cabin, but with strict restrictions. Finnair, for example, allows rabbits to be transported with other small animals, as long as the combined weight of animal and carrier is within limits and the carrier can be stowed under the front seat. Again, nothing is automatic: seats for animals are limited and must be reserved well in advance.
In Italy, Aeroitalia is one of the few airlines that allows rabbits to travel in the cabin under the same conditions as other small pets. A suitable carrier, mandatory stay in that carrier for the entire duration of the flight and preventive checks remain the norm.
However, there is also an almost isolated case on the European scene: La Compagnie, a French airline specializing in transatlantic flights, also explicitly accepts rabbits in the cabin, within a weight limit that includes animal and carrier. A surprising choice, especially considering that long-haul flights are usually the strictest in this domain.
Traveling with a rabbit remains a choice that must be planned carefully
Aside from these exceptions, most major airlines still say no. ITA Airways, for example, has restricted cabin travel to dogs and cats and excludes rabbits from new bookings. This is a line followed by many other airlines, which prefer to limit the types of animals allowed or leave everything to hold or cargo.
The result is an uneven patchwork, with each trip having to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Rules change, itineraries make a difference and a call to customer service can completely turn expectations around. For those traveling with a rabbit, organization becomes an integral part of the journey, perhaps the most important.
(©AeroItalia via GreenMe.it 2026/Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction/Picture: ©Nick Karvounis via Unsplash)