Should pets be allowed in the cabin on UK planes?

The owner of one of Britain's best-known dogs is backing calls to allow small pets to travel in the cabin of commercial flights entering the UK.

Holly Middleton has travelled all over the world with Peggy the pugese, which was crowned the country's ugliest dog before starring in the 2024 Marvel superhero film, Deadpool & Wolverine.

While a number of airlines allow pets in the cabin on planes leaving the UK, they are prohibited from doing so on commercial flights coming into the country. Under government regulations, pets must instead travel as cargo in a dedicated area of the hold.

Middleton, who lives near Beverley, East Yorkshire, said: "Some people's pets are their babies and they want to be able to travel and take them with them when they go on holiday.

"Dogs are already travelling with their owners safely and responsibly all over the world. For people in the UK it's more restrictive."

A petition supporting a change in the rules has been signed by almost 12,000 people.

But concerns have been raised by the charity Allergy UK, which warns that people with a pet allergy might suffer in a confined environment.

The government said it recognised many people would like to travel with pets in the cabin, but it needed to "balance this against our biosecurity requirements and crucial health and documentary checks at airports".

Peggy, a six-year-old pug and Chinese crested cross, has travelled in the cabin on flights to Amsterdam, Canada, America and Ireland.

But Middleton said returning home was much harder and she often had to fly to Amsterdam before taking a ferry back to the UK.

Snub-nosed breeds often are not allowed to travel in the hold because they may have trouble breathing during flights.

A change to the rules would "make it a lot easier for us", she explained.

"There's no extra paperwork, there's no extra vaccines, we're already doing all of that to get them back into the UK anyway via a different means of transport.

"It would make things so much simpler if dogs were just allowed to fly in those airlines that do approve pet travel."

At present, pets travelling into the UK must travel in the hold unless flying on a chartered private plane.

Generally, UK commercial airlines do not allow pets in the cabin with the exception of assistance dogs. British Airways, for example, states that it partners with specialist providers to carry pets as cargo.

But KLM, the Dutch airline, said it allowed cats and dogs to travel either in the cabin or hold on many European and international flights.

A spokesperson explained: "For travel to the UK, however, different rules apply.

"KLM always complies with the regulations set by the relevant national authorities.

"We will follow the petition and are following the discussion with interest."

Allergy UK said any discussion around animals on planes needed to consider passenger safety and public health.

Amena Warner, the charity's head of clinical services, said: "There may be significant and unavoidable health risks for people who suffer from pet allergy, especially in a confined environment.

"They avoid pets because their symptoms can become so severe, such as having an asthma attack.

"If that happens in an closed environment, where it's very difficult to get emergency services or they can't get out of that environment easily, then that can be a serious consequence."

Walkers on Beverley Westwood who spoke to the BBC offered a range of opinions.

Tony Burman said: "I don't think it's a good idea. Some dogs might be alarmed by the movement of the aircraft.

"It's a different environment and they [the owners] aren't sure of how the dog might react.

"I'd say no for the safety of other passengers."

But Becky Turner said she was "all for it" on short-haul flights.

"I've got a rescue dog and I think that if he was not next to me and on a plane, he'd be so nervous and scared.

"It'd just be better for his anxiety."

Another walker, Rich Lang, said it depended on the dog: "If you get one that's not happy and the pressure changes and it starts howling, that could be a bit of an unpleasant trip."

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) added: "The Government takes the importation of pets seriously and is committed to preserving our high animal welfare and biosecurity standards."

Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices