She said she never considered checking the animals into a plane’s cargo. “You would never put your children in the cargo hold. For animals, it’s even more inhumane because they can’t speak and have no concept of time,” she said.

She flew with SingaPaw Air, which describes itself as Singapore’s first airline dedicated entirely to pets, according to Channel News Asia.

Animals on SingaPaw Air’s flights can move around the cabin, sit beside their owners and are offered meal options, The Independent Singapore reported.

Jamie Wong, founder of SingaPaw Air, said his airline is the first of its kind the region, though similar services have been available in the U.S., Europe and Australia.

Wong launched the airline in 2023 after Singapore reopened following the Covid-19 pandemic. He said he wanted to travel abroad with his three dogs and five cats but faced size restrictions and cargo requirements on commercial flights.

“We actually started the first year pretty slowly. Demand has since grown, with nearly 10 flights booked as of February this year,” he said.

Wong said SingaPaw Air does not impose size limits on animals, which are usually cats and dogs. Breeds that many commercial carriers refuse to transport in cargo due to a higher risk of respiratory distress can also travel on SingaPaw Air, he added.

Lesley Ann Chai, charter director of Air 7 Asia, which provides the aircraft used by SingaPaw Air, said the number of passengers bringing pets on charter flights has increased in recent years.

“Out of 10 flights that are booked, one or two now have pets on board. Previously, there were none,” she said.

All SingaPaw Air flights depart from Seletar Airport via the Seletar Business Aviation Center. Pets go through a clearance process similar to human passengers and do not need to arrive earlier than usual, though they must remain in carriers while in the lounge.

Chai said around 70–80% of SingaPaw Air flights are for families moving to another country with their pets.

Alisa Kwok, spent $17,000 to relocate from Hong Kong to Singapore last May with her boyfriend and their 10-year-old Australian shepherd dog, Payday.

“It is definitely a luxury. However, because Payday is a senior dog, we were very concerned about the risks of flying in cargo.

“For us, the additional cost was justified by the peace of mind and the ability to keep him with us in a controlled and comfortable environment,” Kwok said.

Passengers alongside their pets on a SingaPaw Air’s flight. Photo from the airline’s website

Esther Ting, who took her toy poodle Truffle aboard a flight for a holiday in Hong Kong last May for $15,000, said people use SingaPaw Air for different reasons.

“To some it’s a luxury, but to others it’s a necessity depending on various factors. It’s worth it to me because it provides the option to create those memories with your pet,” she said.

According to Chai, a SingaPaw Air’s flight is staffed by two pilots and one cabin crew member, who are informed in advance that animals will be on board. Meals are prepared for both passengers and animals, with dietary restrictions and special requests taken into consideration.

The cabin crew also pay additional attention to the animals and are trained to recognize signs of anxiety, Chai said.

SingaPaw Air recently introduced hour-long “pet discovery flights” to help animals adjust to altitude changes and engine noise before a longer journey.

“The idea is to let the pet get used to the altitude and the engine noise so they are not surprised for the first time during a long flight,” Wong said.

Discovery flights start from S$1,700 (US$1,300) for one passenger and one pet.

Wong said he is exploring the possibility of launching fixed quarterly flights to Hong Kong, potentially in late 2026 or early 2027.