With a decision that is already causing intense discussion, the European Union Court of Justice ruled that pets traveling by air are not considered “passengers,” but “luggage.”
The case began after the disappearance of a dog named Mona, who was lost during a flight from Buenos Aires to Barcelona when she managed to get out of her carrier. The owner sought €5,000 in compensation, arguing that the animal should not be treated like luggage. However, the court rejected the claim: without a specific declaration about the contents of the cage, the pet is considered luggage and the maximum amount of compensation is limited to €1,578.82.
The ruling is based on the Montreal Convention, which governs airline liability. The text explicitly separates “persons” from “luggage.” Since pets are not “persons,” they fall under the category of luggage. Although the EU recognizes the importance of animal protection, the Court clarified that this cannot override the current compensation framework.
The decision has significant implications: owners who transport animals without using special declarations will face strictly limited compensation limits in the event of loss or accident. As more and more passengers travel with their pets, the case opens a new chapter in the discussion on how pets should be treated in air travel.
Source:DW
