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Service Animals (In-Cabin & Support)

SATA Azores Airlines welcomes trained assistance dogs to support passengers with disabilities. Requirements and documentation vary by flight origin and destination.

General Requirements

• Assistance dogs must visibly carry a badge identifying them as such.
• Passengers must present applicable assistance dog documentation at the airport, which varies by origin and destination.
• Dogs must be trained by accredited national or international establishments and carry a certificate or card proving this.
• Assistance dogs cannot be transported on the owner's lap or seated in emergency rows.
• Dogs must remain leashed and properly fastened to the passenger seat belt throughout the flight.
• Dogs must have space to safely change position and not interfere with neighboring passengers; muzzle use is recommended for medium and large dogs.

Weight and Seating Conditions

• Dogs up to 11 kg: Accommodated on the floor at the passenger's feet in a window seat.
• Dogs 11–25 kg: Accommodated on the floor at the passenger's feet in a window seat, preferably in the first row of Economy or Comfort class. If traveling with a companion, the companion will be seated next to the passenger.
• Dogs 25–40 kg: Same conditions as 11–25 kg dogs. If traveling alone, an extra seat may be provided free of charge (if available) for the dog to occupy the floor space of a window seat, with the passenger seated next to it. Advance purchase of the extra seat is possible.
• Dogs over 40 kg: Acceptance in the cabin is evaluated case-by-case.

If Cabin Space Is Insufficient

If the dog cannot be safely and comfortably accommodated in the cabin due to size or aircraft characteristics, passengers are offered:

• Free transport of the dog in the hold as AVIH (Animal in Hold).
• Travel on a later flight with seat availability, free of charge for fare change.
• Upgrade to Comfort Class if legroom seats are available (subject to fare difference, no change penalty).

Behavioral Requirements

Assistance dogs must be trained to behave properly in public. Disruptive behaviors such as growling, biting, lunging, excessive barking, running freely, or soiling the cabin are not permitted. Failure to control such behavior will result in the dog being treated as a pet, with applicable fees and requirements.

Regional Specifics

Europe, Canada, Cape Verde

• Notify SATA at least 48 hours before departure.
• Documentation must be submitted where booking was made or sent to info@sata.pt for online bookings, up to 48 hours before flight.
• Behavior and documentation will be evaluated at the airport for final approval.

United States

• No training certificate required, but the dog must be trained to assist a person with a disability and behave adequately in public.
• It is a federal crime to make false statements on the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form.
• The dog must fit in the passenger's foot space without intruding on others or blocking aisles.
• Passengers may be assigned legroom seats free of charge if available; otherwise, options include transport in hold, extra seat provision, or travel on a later flight.
• Passengers must present documentation required by U.S. DOT and CDC for entry into the USA.

United Kingdom

• Assistance dogs must be trained by accredited establishments recognized by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF).
• Passengers must present a card or certificate identifying the dog as an assistance dog.
• Pre-approval from the UK Animal Reception Center is required at least 72 hours before the flight; the pre-approval letter must be shown before boarding.
• Seating and weight conditions are the same as general rules.
• Extra seat free of charge if available 24 hours before the flight; advance purchase possible.
• On arrival, passengers must wait for assistance teams to accompany them to the Animal Reception Center.

Emotional Support Animals

SATA International does not allow emotional support dogs that lack specific training and are not recognized by Portuguese and European legislation.

This policy aligns with many other European air carriers due to increased safety risks.

• Emotional support dogs must have specific training.
• Animals without training must not be accepted in the aircraft cabin.
• Animals must be accommodated in a carrier box when in the cabin.

In-Cabin Carrier Details

On flights to/from the USA and Canada, only dogs and cats are accepted for in-cabin transport as pets.

• Pets can travel in the cabin or hold depending on species, size, and weight.
• Small pets up to 8 kg allowed in cabin in a soft, leak-proof carrier/travel bag that lets the animal stand, rotate, and lie down naturally.
• Rodents (hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas), terrapins, and turtles must be transported in a hard box compliant with Live Animal Regulation (LAR).
• Pre-booking is required and must be confirmed by SATA Air Açores and/or Azores Airlines.

Maximum carrier dimensions:

• Soft carriers/travel bags: 40 cm (L) x 35 cm (W) x 21 cm (H)
• Hard boxes for rodents, terrapins, turtles: 25 cm (L) x 20 cm (W) x 20 cm (H)

• Only one pet carrier per passenger allowed in the cabin; acceptance depends on aircraft limits.
• Carrier doors must have a fully secure locking system.
• Ventilated area must be at least 16% of the total surface area of the four sides.
• Ventilation openings must prevent any part of the animal’s body from reaching outside.
• Carriers must be strong, escape-proof, and leak-proof.
• Absorbent material (newspapers, blankets, or paper towels) must be placed inside.
• Carriers cannot be placed on aircraft seats; animals must remain inside carriers during the entire flight.
• Pets must remain in a suitable waterproof soft carrier or hard box throughout the journey.
• Pets should travel in a window seat; appropriate seats assigned upon service confirmation.
• Pets must be healthy, clean, non-dangerous, and not excessively noisy.
• All health regulations and documentation required by countries on the route must be complied with.

Accepted animal species in the cabin:

• Cats, dogs, and ferrets
• Other small domestic animals: guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, rabbits, terrapins, tortoises/turtles

• Pregnant or breastfeeding females are not accepted.
• Pets under 8 weeks old are not accepted.
• SATA Azores Airlines reserves the right to transport animals in the hold if necessary.

In Cargo Carrier Details

SATA Azores Airlines has specific rules for transporting animals in cargo:

• Animals are not accepted in cargo on flights to/from the United States of America.
• Starting August 1, 2025, pets will no longer be accepted in the hold on flights to/from Canada, except for assistance dogs.
• Animals that do not meet cabin requirements or exceed cabin space will be transported in a climate-controlled cargo hold.
• Animals must be carried in properly sealed, strong, secure, and rigid containers.
• Maximum container dimensions on SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines flights: 100 cm (length) x 78 cm (width) x 69 cm (height), but may vary depending on pet size.
• Containers must include handling bars and handles for safe handling and loading.
• Proper ventilation is required for correct air circulation.
• One end of the container (e.g., door) must be open and covered with bars, welded mesh, or soft expanded metal firmly fixed to prevent animal escape.
• Doors must be completely secure and reinforced to prevent accidental opening.
• Absorbent material (newspapers, blankets, or paper towels) must be placed inside the container.

Container construction materials must be fiberglass, rigid plastic, metal, solid wood, or plywood.

Animal measurements for container sizing:

• A = Animal’s length from nose to tail’s root
• B = Height from ground to elbow
• C = Distance between shoulders
• D = Animal’s height in position (top of head for pets with non-erect ears; tips of ears for erect ears)

Container size requirements:

• Length: A + ½ B (domestic flights), A + B (international flights)
• Width: C × 2 (domestic flights), (C + 3 cm) × 2 (international flights)
• Height: D (domestic flights), D + 7 cm (international flights)

• Plastic doors allowed if hinges and pins are metal and thick enough for secure attachment.
• Large doors require extra hinges and two or three secure fixation methods (plastic brackets or pins).
• Ventilation openings must be small enough to prevent any part of the animal’s body from contacting the exterior.
• If container has wheels, they must be removed or blocked.
• Sides must be solid with holes or mesh for ventilation.
• Inside must be smooth and free of protrusions to prevent injury or damage.
• Top must be solid; ventilation holes allowed if safety is not compromised.
• Food and water containers must be inside with outside access for use during delays or transfers; sealed containers should have extra food strapped outside.
• Fish must be transported in strong plastic bags inside water-resistant containers (plastic, wood, expanded polystyrene, or Styrofoam).
• Certain species require reinforced or metal containers due to size and weight.