Pet Airways, a startup based in Delray Beach, said in an announcement Thursday it will carry pets (but not their human friends) in the main cabin.

The budding airline said it will carry "pawsengers" to and from Denver, New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Pets-only airline says it plans to serve Denver, New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles

Pet Airways said that pet owners can leave their animals at the airport and track their progress online at www.petairways.com.

Many airlines require that pets be transported in the cargo hold of aircraft in cages. Others won't carry pets at all.

"The experience [of flying in the cargo hold] is frightening to the pets, and can cause severe emotional and physical harm, even death," Dan Wiesel, president/CEO of Pet Airways, said in a statement Thursday. "This is not what most pet owners want to subject their pets to, but they have had no other choice, until now."

"From the moment a pet is dropped off at a Pet Lounge, the pet is always under the care of trained Pet Attendants," the airline said in its statement. "Monitored by Pet Attendants, pets will fly in planes that are fully-lit, climate-controlled and have the proper level of fresh air circulation that pets require."

It said that pets, "depending on transit time, will be offered toilet facilities, food and water as necessary during stops."

Fare information was not released, nor was it clear which Denver-area airport would be used by the new service.

The airline plans to fly a variety of planes ranging from turboprops to Boeing 727 jets, the Washington Post reported.

But before Fido and Fifi can settle into their seats, there may be one or two issues to clear up, according to a report April 1 in the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times.

The Times said Pet Airways lacked a Federal Aviation Administration operating certificate to fly as a cargo airline, and that its founders lacked commercial aviation credentials.

The newspaper said Wiesel told the FAA March 31 that his company plans to contract with a certificated airline "to be determined" to do the flying.

Wiesel told the Times in an interview that the all-pet airline is "absolutely for real."

17 April 2009