Glasgow Airport will become the first airport in Scotland to allow guide dog owners to fly with their assistance dogs in the cabin of an aircraft.
This has become possible after the airport registered for a new Pet Travel Scheme. Under this scheme registered guide dogs or assistance dogs are allowed to fly with their owners to certain approved European destinations and then return directly to Scotland.
Previously, guide dog owners had to return via other authorised airports in England such as Manchester , Heathrow or Gatwick .
Gordon Dewa, who is the managing director of Glasgow Airport, says "We're proud to be the first airport in Scotland to offer this service to passengers who want to fly with their guide dogs. We have been working to deliver this scheme for a number of years, and we're pleased to be able to offer this valuable service in partnership with Thomsonfly, one of the UK's largest holiday airlines."
"The Pet Travel Scheme promises to transform flying for blind and visually impaired travellers. It gives such passengers the freedom to fly, and the piece of mind that comes from knowing that their guide dog or assistance dog is safely by their side on board the aircraft cabin."
In order to provide this service to passengers airlines have to first register specific routes under the Pet Travel Scheme and Thomsonfly is the first carrier to do this at Glasgow.
Danielle Chapman, spokesperson for Thomsonfly said, "We're delighted that approval has been given for Glasgow as we have been waiting for this for some time. Now it will be possible for guide dog owners to fly in and out of Glasgow on 17 approved routes without having to travel south to Manchester or Gatwick. This is a huge leap forwards for our customers wanting to travel out of Glasgow with a guide dog and we are proud to be the first airline to offer this service."
