SINGAPORE: When Ms Gwenda Phillips relocated from Singapore to Hong Kong in March last year, she paid just over US$30,000 for herself, her sister-in-law and their four cats to board a private flight.
The alternative – checking the animals into cargo – was never a consideration.
“You would never put your children in the cargo hold. For animals, it’s even more inhumane as they can’t speak and have no concept of time,” she said.
Ms Philips flew with SingaPaw Air, which bills itself as Singapore’s first airline catering fully to pets. On its flights, animals roam the cabin freely, sit beside their owners and are offered meal options, much like any other passenger.
The airline occupies a niche that its founder Jamie Wong said has no direct equivalent in the region, although similar services operate in the United States, Europe and Australia. Its clientele ranges from owners relocating across borders to those taking their pets on holiday.
