If you own a pug, French bulldog, Boston terrier, Persian cat, or another snub-nosed breed and you're planning to fly out of the UAE, you've probably already discovered the rules are different — and harder — than for other breeds. Some airlines won't take your pet at all. Others will, but only outside specific months. Some accept the breed in winter and refuse it in summer.
This guide explains exactly which breeds are affected, which airlines and routes the restrictions apply to, when seasonal embargoes kick in, and what your options are if your specific breed isn't accepted on your preferred carrier.
Quick summary
- •Strictest air travel restrictions of any pet category—Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds face limits driven by genuine medical risk, not airline overcaution.
- •Emirates SkyCargo seasonal restriction—All brachycephalic breeds may only travel Emirates between November 1 and April 30, with an indemnity waiver and an oversized crate.
- •Other airlines apply their own restrictions—British Airways / IAG Cargo handles acceptance case-by-case. Philippine Airlines refuses all brachycephalic breeds entirely.
- •Seasonal restrictions cut the travel window—Emirates permits brachycephalic breeds only November 1 to April 30, with indemnity waiver and oversized crate. Etihad's window is narrower at November 1 to March 1.
- •Crate sizing rules are stricter—one IATA size larger than weight alone would suggest, to allow extra ventilation and headroom.
- •If your breed isn't accepted on a major carrier, alternatives exist—but routes, timing, and costs change depending on your specific breed, route, and travel month.
What "brachycephalic" actually means
Brachycephalic literally means "short-headed" — referring to dogs and cats with flat faces, shortened skulls, and compressed airways. The shortened skull doesn't reduce the amount of soft tissue in the airway, so these breeds typically have narrower nostrils, elongated soft palates, and smaller windpipes than longer-snouted breeds.
For most of daily life, this is manageable. For air travel — where pets experience temperature changes, stress, reduced air circulation, and pressurised flight conditions — the same anatomy creates a disproportionately high risk of breathing distress and overheating. This is why airlines treat brachycephalic breeds as a separate risk category, not because of breed prejudice but because of documented incident rates.
Which breeds are classified as brachycephalic
The Furs Class Travel platform recognises 28 breeds as brachycephalic for air travel purposes, with a high-risk subset of 14 breeds (Tier 1) — the breeds most frequently refused by major carriers.
Standard brachycephalic breeds (28)
Affenpinscher, American bulldog, Boston terrier, Boxer, Brussels griffon, Bullboxer, Bulldog, Bulldog mix, Bullmation, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Chihuahua, Chow chow, English bulldog, English bulldog mix, French bulldog, French bulldog mix, Frenchton, Frug, Japanese chin, Lhasa apso, Pekingese, Pekingese mix, Pug, Pug mix, Puggle, Shar pei, Shih tzu, Tibetan spaniel.
High-risk subset (Tier 1 — most frequently refused by major carriers)
British bulldog, Bullboxer, Bulldog, Bulldog mix, Bullmation, English bulldog, English bulldog mix, French bulldog, French bulldog mix, Frenchton, Frug, Pekingese, Pekingese mix, Pug, Pug mix, Puggle.
Furs Class Travel's Tier 1 classification reflects the breeds most frequently refused by major carriers — bulldogs, pugs, and their close mixes. Airlines themselves do not publicly use a tiered structure; acceptance varies airline-by-airline, route-by-route, and season-by-season.
Why airlines restrict these breeds
The medical risk is real. Brachycephalic breeds are significantly more likely than other breeds to experience:
- Breathing distress under stress (which travel inherently causes)
- Overheating, even at moderate ambient temperatures
- Respiratory collapse during prolonged transit
- Difficulty regulating body temperature in pressurised cargo holds
Several airlines have lost brachycephalic pets in transit. Most have responded by restricting these breeds to cooler months, handling acceptance case-by-case, or refusing them outright. These restrictions are not negotiable through individual appeals — a vet letter or oversized crate doesn't override an airline's published policy.
Airline-by-airline breakdown
Emirates SkyCargo
The dominant carrier from Dubai International Airport.
- Seasonal restriction
- All brachycephalic breeds — including bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, boxers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, chow chows, shih tzus, and others — may only travel Emirates between November 1 and April 30, the cooler months at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
- Travel conditions during the open window
- Acceptance requires an indemnity waiver from the owner, a fit-to-fly veterinary assessment, and a crate one IATA size larger than the standard size for the pet's measurements.
- Outside the open window (May 1 – October 31)
- Emirates does not transport any brachycephalic breed during these months. Mixes are evaluated case-by-case by the local SkyCargo office.
Etihad Airways
Departing from Abu Dhabi, both in-cabin and cargo.
- Winter-only window
- November 1 – March 1: Etihad accepts brachycephalic breeds only within this 4-month window. Outside it, the carrier refuses snub-nosed breeds entirely.
- Note
- The Etihad winter window is narrower than the Emirates winter window — pets that could travel Emirates in October or April cannot travel Etihad in those same months.
British Airways / IAG Cargo
For UAE → UK cargo routes.
- Acceptance policy
- IAG Cargo (British Airways' cargo arm) does not publish a fixed ban list for brachycephalic breeds. Acceptance is case-by-case, depending on the specific breed, route, season, and aircraft type. Use the free travel planner to see current IAG Cargo availability for your breed and route. Our vetted relocation companies handle IAG Cargo bookings end-to-end on supported routes.
- Crate requirement
- For snub-nosed breeds that are accepted, IAG Cargo requires a container at least 10% larger than the minimum size — the same oversized-crate principle that Emirates applies.
- Heat restriction
- IAG Cargo applies temperature embargoes on snub-nosed breeds when departure or arrival airport temperatures exceed 75°F (24°C).
Air India
For UAE → India routes — in-cabin, excess baggage, and cargo.
- Acceptance policy
- Air India applies restrictions on brachycephalic breeds, with policy varying by breed, route, and aircraft. Acceptance for your specific breed and route should be confirmed before booking. For complex cases, our vetted relocation companies handle the carrier coordination directly.
Philippine Airlines
For UAE → Philippines routes.
- Total ban
- On all brachycephalic breeds — standard or Tier 1, in any season, on any flight. No snub-nosed breed can fly Philippine Airlines.
- If your destination is the Philippines
- An alternative carrier or routing is required.
Air Canada
For UAE → Canada cargo routes — handled through Air Canada's live animal service.
- Permanent ban in cargo and checked baggage
- Air Canada does not accept brachycephalic dog or cat breeds in the cargo hold or as checked baggage, on any flight, in any season. This has been a permanent ban since 2014.
- In-cabin only
- Small brachycephalic dogs and cats may travel in the cabin if combined pet plus carrier weight is under 10 kg (22 lbs) and the carrier meets Air Canada's under-seat dimensions. Bookings must be made by phone, not online.
Seasonal restrictions explained
The summer/winter splits aren't arbitrary. They track to ground handling temperatures at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH), which routinely exceed 40°C between May and October.
Brachycephalic breeds in transit during these months face:
- High temperatures during the ground portion of the journey (taxiing, loading, unloading)
- Increased risk of heat stress in the cargo terminal before flight
- Elevated risk of in-flight respiratory complications
The November-to-April window aligns with cooler ground temperatures across the UAE. Even within the winter window, individual flight times matter — overnight flights are typically lower-risk than daytime departures.
Crate sizing for brachycephalic breeds
Standard IATA crate sizing is based on your pet's measurements and weight. For brachycephalic breeds, the platform automatically recommends one IATA size larger than weight alone would suggest — this gives the pet additional headroom and ventilation to compensate for their reduced respiratory capacity.
What to do if your preferred carrier doesn't accept your breed
If your destination's most direct carrier doesn't accept your breed in your travel month, you have three realistic options:
1. Use an alternative airline.
Even on routes where the dominant carrier (e.g., Emirates) doesn't accept your breed in your travel month, secondary carriers may still accept it — sometimes with a connection through Europe or Asia. Our vetted relocation companies can advise on the major airlines available for your breed and route, including additional carriers beyond our standard coverage.
2. Travel during the open window.
If the issue is seasonal, shifting your travel month into the winter window restores access.
3. Work with a specialist experienced with brachycephalic breeds.
Some of our vetted relocation companies have established relationships with carriers that will accept higher-risk breeds with additional documentation, custom crate arrangements, or routing through cooler-climate hubs.
Common misconceptions
"My pug is healthy, so the airline will make an exception."
Reality: No. Where an airline restricts a breed, the restriction applies to all dogs of that breed, regardless of individual health, age, or fitness. A current vet certificate confirming your dog is in excellent health does not override an airline's policy.
"I'll just call the airline and ask."
Reality: You can — but where the platform shows a restriction, that restriction is enforced at the cargo terminal regardless of any verbal assurance given by phone. Always confirm policy in writing before booking.
"If I pay extra, they'll take my dog."
Reality: No carrier offers a paid exception for restricted breeds. The restrictions exist because of medical-risk incidents the airlines have decided not to repeat — they're not commercial restrictions and can't be priced around.
"All bulldogs are banned everywhere."
Reality: Not quite. Different airlines maintain different policies — some apply seasonal restrictions, some handle acceptance case-by-case, and some refuse certain breeds outright. Your specific breed's options depend on the destination, the airline, and the season.
"I can sedate my dog to make the flight easier."
Reality: No reputable airline accepts sedated pets, and most veterinarians refuse to prescribe sedation for air travel. Sedation reduces the pet's ability to regulate breathing — which is exactly the function brachycephalic breeds are already compromised on. Sedated brachycephalic pets are at significantly elevated risk during flight.
"Boston terriers and Cavaliers aren't really brachycephalic."
Reality: They are. The cuteness of the breed and the relative success of older or athletic individuals can mask the underlying anatomy. Both breeds appear on airline brachycephalic lists and face the standard restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
Can my French bulldog or pug fly out of Dubai?
When can I fly my snub-nosed dog from the UAE?
Why do airlines restrict brachycephalic breeds?
What crate size does my brachycephalic dog need?
Can I sedate my pet to make the flight easier?
What if my preferred airline refuses my breed?
Get my dog's travel plan
The combination of breed, airline, route, and travel month creates a different answer for every brachycephalic owner — and the answer changes if you shift any one variable.
Use our free travel planner on the homepage to see exactly which carriers remain open to you, factoring in breed restrictions, seasonal embargoes, and route availability automatically.