Achi news desk-
EAST FARMINGDALE, New York –
With this airline, dogs leave the kennels and fly first class.
BARK Air wants to pamper pets and their owners even before takeoff and will make an initial flight from New York to Los Angeles on Thursday.
CEO Matt Meeker said the business idea came from struggling to transport Hugo, his Great Dane.
“I couldn’t travel long distances with him and I had the idea that there should be an airline that caters to dogs,” said Meeker, who also founded BarkBox, a subscription service for dog products owned by Bark Inc .
“We provide everything for the dog, trying to reduce their anxiety and stress, so they have the most comfortable, fearless experience on a plane.”
The dog-first experience begins with a waiting lounge full of treats and a quick check-in.
BARK Air also offers a doggy spa on board and a menu that includes “dog champagne” and “barkaccinos.”
The company’s intention is to sell 10 tickets for each plane in order to make room for 10 dogs, although there is room for up to 15 people on the luxury plane.
Tickets for one person and one dog cost US$8,000 for a one-way international flight or US$6,000 for domestic trips.
Meeker says prices may drop in the future.
“We are operating at a loss today as we start. The idea is over time, we have a pretty clear path to lower the price for the consumer and lower our costs. And that comes with scale and more of paths.”
BARK Air currently flies between New York City, Los Angeles and London.
The company is considering adding flights to Paris, Milan, Chicago, Seattle, and seasonal destinations in Florida and Arizona after receiving 15,000 requests for new destinations.
“I hope we can create an experience that reaches all families who want to travel with their whole family as they do with their children.”
(Reporting by Aleksandra Michalska; Editing by Sandra Maler)
