'Pet Dogs Greatly Welcomed' First Flight of Aircraft... Fully Booked Despite High Price of 10 Million Won

Dedicated Dog Airline 'Bark Air' First Flight
Capacity for 15 Dogs... No Leashes or Cages Required

A dedicated airline for companion dogs operated an aircraft for the first time in the world. The flight was reported to be fully booked.

Dogs boarding the aircraft during the test flight of Bark Air, an airline dedicated to pets.
[Image source: Provided by Bark Air]

On the 24th, foreign media reported that the U.S. companion dog-only airline ‘Bark Air’ operated its first route from New York to Los Angeles the previous day. Bark is the sound a dog makes, equivalent to "meongmeong" in Korean, and as a neologism, it is similar to "daengdaeng."

The dedicated dog airplane can accommodate up to 15 companion dogs, with no restrictions on size or breed. One owner can accompany each dog, but only passengers aged 18 or older are allowed on board.

Dogs are free to move around the cabin like people, without being leashed or confined in cages. Snacks, dog-exclusive champagne, dog coffee called ‘Barkaccino,’ waste pads, and spa services are provided.

Dogs boarding the aircraft during the test flight of Bark Air, an airline dedicated to companion dogs.
[Image source: Provided by Bark Air]

Currently, Bark Air operates only the international route New York?London and the domestic route New York?Los Angeles. The fare, which includes both the dog and owner’s boarding costs, is about 11 million KRW one-way for international flights and about 8.22 million KRW for domestic flights, making it quite expensive. Nevertheless, following the sold-out first flight, tickets for June flights are reportedly still being sold.

Bark explained, “When TVs, phones, and cars were first introduced, they were expensive,” adding, “As demand increases, prices will naturally decrease.”

Bark Air’s parent company is Bark, a U.S. pet food and toy company. Matt Meeker, CEO of Bark, decided to create a dedicated airline for companion dogs based on the difficulties he experienced trying to fly with his dog ‘Hugo.’

He explained the founding purpose, saying, “I couldn’t travel long distances with Hugo and thought there should be an airline that accommodates companion dogs,” and added, “I worked hard to create an experience prioritizing dogs in the air by applying insights I gained over several years.”