Breed and airline restrictions: can your pet fly?
If you own a flat-faced or strong-jawed breed, you have probably heard a flat "that breed is banned" or "snub-nosed dogs cannot fly." The truth is more workable. Two different rules are at play — airline safety rules and country import bans — and most breeds can still be moved with the right airline, route and season.
Two rules people mix up
A breed can be affected by one of these, both, or neither — and they work completely differently.
Airline rules
Airlines limit flat-faced breeds — and some strong-jawed breeds — mainly for safety in the hold. These rules vary by airline, route and season.
Varies by airline & seasonCountry import bans
Some destinations refuse certain breed types at the border, no matter which airline you use. These are fixed by the country, not the carrier.
Fixed by the destinationYour breed might face one, both, or neither — we check both for your exact route.
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds
Short-nosed breeds breathe less efficiently, and the heat, stress and pressure changes of cargo travel raise the risk. That is why most airlines restrict or refuse them in the hold.
Dogs commonly affected
Cats too — not exempt
Mixed breeds count too
Airlines judge by the face, not the pedigree — a cross with a flat-faced parent is usually assessed the same way.
How airlines handle flat faces
Refuse in cargo
Most major carriers will not take flat-faced pets in the hold at all.
Cargo with conditions
Some accept them only with a vet fitness-to-fly certificate, a crate one size larger, and temperature limits.
Cabin — rarely an option
Small flat-faced pets can sometimes fly in-cabin, but Air India carries no in-cabin pets on most international routes.
Strong-jawed and "dangerous breed" rules
Separately from breathing, some airlines and many countries restrict certain powerful breeds on safety grounds. Temperament does not change the policy — these rules go by breed type.
Some of these overlap with the flat-faced list (for example bulldogs and some bully types). Where a country also bans the breed, the country rule takes over — that is next.
Which countries ban which breeds
Some destinations will not admit certain breed types at all. Here is where the routes we run stand — see each route guide for the full, current list.
United Kingdom
DEL → LHRXL Bully plus Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro cannot be imported.
Full UK rules →United Arab Emirates
DEL → DXBPit Bull types, all Mastiffs (including the Bully Kutta), Cane Corso, Boerboel, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa and Presa Canario.
Full UAE rules →Australia
DEL → MELDogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull Terrier and Presa Canario are prohibited imports.
Full Australia rules →United States
DEL → JFKNo federal breed import ban — but airline cargo rules still apply to your breed.
Full USA rules →Canada
DEL → YYZNo federal breed import ban — some provinces and cities restrict certain breeds.
Full Canada rules →Somewhere else?
DEL → ?We run many more routes. Tell us your destination and breed and we will check the current rules.
Get a free quote →The widely-copied
23-breed ban list
…and 13 more — all from a March 2024 advisory.
Good news: no breed ban to enter India
That March 2024 government advisory was struck down by the High Courts. As of June 2026 there is no nationwide breed import ban into India — yet most competitor pages still print the dead list as if it were law.
Full import rules, documents and the AQCS process → India pet import rules →
We plan the route around your breed
Breed rules change often and vary by airline, season and destination. Tracking them — and designing around them — is our job.
- We check every airline's current stance for your breed
- We pick the airline, route and season that will actually carry your pet
- We handle the vet fitness paperwork and the larger crate
- If a route genuinely cannot take your breed, we tell you straight and find the alternative
Breed and airline FAQ
Is my flat-faced dog banned from flying?
Can a pit bull or mastiff be relocated?
Are cats restricted too?
Does a ban in one country mean my pet cannot fly anywhere?
Is there a breed ban for importing to India?
Can snub-nosed dogs fly in summer?
Not sure if your breed can fly?
Tell us your breed and destination — we will check every airline and route, and give you a straight answer.