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BA
ban ‘flat faced dogs’ from flights
Exclusive by Nick Mays
BRITISH AIRWAYS have instigated their own form of Breed Specific
Legislation and have arbitrarily banned three breeds of brachycephalic
– flat-faced dogs from all flights that carry pets under
the Pet Passport Scheme. The ban was placed on Bulldogs, Pekingese
and Pugs just before Christmas 2002, although no formal statement
was made as to this change of policy.
OUR DOGS learned of the breed ban via a Pekingese breeder who
wished to fly some dogs to the UK under the PETS scheme. The
breeder was informed that BA would no longer carry flat-faced
breeds due to "health difficulties" that these breeds
faced whilst flying.
OUR DOGS contacted BA’s Press Office on Tuesday of this
week to enquire whether such a policy existed. Press Officer
Richard Goodfellow stated that he was unaware of such a policy
but said that he would check with BA’s World Cargo division.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Goodfellow confirmed that such a breed-specific
ban had been initiated just before Christmas."
Mr Goodfellow told OUR DOGS: "British Airways have taken
veterinary advice concerning three breeds of flat faced dog
– Bulldogs, Pugs and Pekingese and have decided that we
will no longer carry these breeds on BA flights, due to the
respiratory problems these breeds can face. These problems can
be exacerbated by stress and air travel can be stressful to
dog, hence our decision."
When asked whether any kind of consultation had taken place
with either the Kennel Club or any of the Breed Clubs, Mr Goodfellow
added: "We work closely with vets and take their advice.
As the carriers operating under the pet passport scheme, we
can decide which breeds of dog we carry on our flights, so,
to my knowledge, no further consultation took place other than
via our vets."
BA’s breed specific policy is reminiscent of American Airlines’
arbitrary ban on a number of breeds last year, following an
isolated incident when a Pit Bull terrier escaped in the hold
of a plane on a domestic flight and caused an unspecified amount
of damage. In this case, AA’s insurers specified which
breeds could or could not be carried. The BA ban on brachycephalic
breeds, taken on the advice of vets, again without any reference
or independent advice from any other source, is bound to cause
ill feeling and outrage amongst breeders of those breeds affected.
Whether the ban was instigated because of an incident involving
one of the named breeds suffering during a flight is not known
and was not conveyed to BA’s Press Office.
OUR DOGS will conduct further investigations into the origin
of BA’s breed ban and publish our findings in a subsequent
issue.
If you wish to protest about British Airway’s breed ban,
please contact:
Gareth Kirkwood, Managing Director, British Airways World Cargo,
PO Box 365, Harmondsworth, Middlesex UN7 0GB, Tel: 0845 7799977
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