Winter Weather Flight Embargoes and Pet Safety

During the winter months, airlines may occasionally place temporary flight embargoes on live animal transport due to cold weather conditions. These decisions are made by the airlines and airport authorities and are always centered on one thing above all else: animal safety.

We want to help set clear expectations around why these embargoes happen, what they mean for your pet’s travel, and how we approach them without causing unnecessary concern.

Why Cold Weather Embargoes Happen

When temperatures drop below safe thresholds, certain parts of air travel can pose risks for animals, including:

• Ground handling during loading and unloading
• Time spent on the tarmac between facilities
• Transitions between climate-controlled environments

Even short exposure windows can be unsafe in extreme cold. Because of this, airlines may temporarily pause pet transport on specific routes or through specific hubs until conditions improve. These restrictions apply specifically to live animal transport and do not necessarily impact passenger flight schedules.

Weather-related impacts can sometimes affect regions people do not typically associate with severe winter impacts, like Texas for example. Weather patterns change quickly, and airlines must respond in real time. Read here about other factors that may delay pet travel plans.

What’s Important to Know

• Embargoes are precautionary. They are not a reflection of a problem with your pet, your booking, or your preparation.
• They are outside of anyone’s control. Airlines make these calls independently, often with little notice.
• They are usually temporary. Many embargoes last days or weeks and are reassessed frequently based on updated forecasts.

How We Protect Pets During These Situations

When weather-related embargoes arise, our focus shifts immediately to planning and protection:

• Monitoring conditions and airline updates closely
• Proactively identifying which itineraries may be affected
• Communicating early so families are informed, not surprised
• Adjusting timelines or routing only when it is safer to do so

While delays are never ideal, moving forward only when conditions are appropriate is always the right decision for animal welfare.

Setting the Right Expectations

International pet travel involves many moving parts, and weather is one of the few variables that cannot be predicted or controlled far in advance. Winter travel can still be completed safely, but flexibility is sometimes required.

If your pet’s journey is impacted by a cold weather embargo, it does not mean something has gone wrong. It simply means safety standards are being upheld.

Weather embargoes aren’t limited to winter. Airlines sometimes adjust live animal travel during other seasons too. Even outside of winter, weather can occasionally affect travel timing. Here is general guidance on how weather-related embargoes may be handled during summer pet travel.

Our Commitment

Our role is to guide you through these moments calmly, transparently, and with your pet’s best interest at heart. When delays occur, they are made to protect your animal, not to complicate your plans.

If you have questions or concerns about winter travel, our team is always here to talk through expectations and next steps.