- Bark Air announced it has expanded its flight offerings since its May launch, making the luxury dog airline more affordable for passengers. The program is piloting in February with flights between New York City and Fort Lauderdale, with each flight being able to accommodate about 20 passengers and 20 dogs.
Dogs are more than man’s best friend; they’re family. And people are splurging on their dogs like never before, taking them to high-end daycare facilities, dressing them in stylish outfits, and feeding them human-grade food.
And in May, Bark, a company that sells monthly curated toy and treat boxes, launched an airline with our canine companions at the top of mind. But like any luxury experience, tickets came at a price many consumers would consider unattainable. At launch, one-way flights cost approximately $6,000 to $8,000.
But Bark Air announced in December it’s piloting a new offering that’s a fraction of the cost of other tickets. The airline will start by offering more affordable tickets between New York City and Fort Lauderdale in February to test the new pricing model. Dogs and their human companions can fly from New York City to Fort Lauderdale, or vice versa, for $950—a steal compared to other Bark Air flights.
“Since our first flight in May 2024, the response to Bark Air has been incredible,” Mike Novotny, president of Bark Air, told Fortune. “National and international dog parents have embraced this new way to travel with their dogs. By putting dogs first and offering a premium experience, we’ve redefined what it means to travel together.”
The planes used for the special February flights are considerably larger than those used on other Bark Air flights. The select flights are through direct air carrier Air Wisconsin, which will use CRJ-200 aircrafts. These planes typically seat up to 50 passengers, two flight crew members, and two cabin crew members, according to Paramount Business Jets.
These aircrafts will accommodate more dog and human passengers than other Bark Air flights, which are typically flown on private 10-seater GulfStream jets. While passenger capacity will vary depending on aircraft and dog sizes, according to Bark Air, the CRJ-200 aircrafts flying from NYC to Florida can accommodate about 20 dogs and 20 humans.
“At Bark, we believe every dog deserves the best, including when they travel,” Novotny said. “Expanding to larger planes like the CRJ-200 allows us to welcome more dog families while keeping fares under $1,000 and delivering the ‘white paw’ service our passengers love.”
This specific route was chosen based on consumer demand for winter getaways in Florida, according to Bark Air. The airline still offers its luxury routes to and from locations including NYC, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Fort Lauderdale. Since its May launch, Bark Air has served more than 500 dogs on nearly 70 flights, Novotny said.
This new offering is Bark Air delivering on an earlier promise to make its flights more affordable. In May, when the airline was first announced, Bark’s VP of marketing Dave Stangle told Fortune it had to launch with that pricing model because the upfront costs of starting an airline were “really expensive.”
“In the future we are going to be able to invest a lot more into this and that will help us bring the cost down to capture more of an audience,” Stangle said at the time. And thanks to a successful first few months, Bark is already able to start experimenting with cheaper flight options.
The growth in Bark Air flight offerings fulfills the vision of Bark CEO Matt Meeker, who began ideating an airline for dogs about a decade ago to make the experiences of flying with your canine more comfortable and enjoyable. And he would know how terrible it can be to fly your dog anywhere—especially when they have to fly in cargo. Around the time of Bark Air’s launch, Meeker actually flew in a crate under a plane for a four-hour flight.
It was “absolutely horrible,” Meeker told Fortune. “It was loud, disorienting, cramped, and uncomfortable. I’m a human that knew what was going on and what I had gotten myself into. I can’t imagine how confusing, terrifying, and stressful it must be for a dog.”
Dedicated to ‘white paw’ service
Although more passengers can be accommodated on Bark Air’s new flights, the company is staying dedicated to its signature “white paw” service.
“On these larger planes, we’re enhancing the experience to fit the shorter flight times while keeping features like calming pheromones, tailored snacks, and our attentive in-flight care,” Novotny said. Plus, Bark Air has also been in touch with hotels in New York and Florida that are interested in supporting dog-friendly travel “to make the experience even better for our passengers as we look to expand this route,” Novotny added.
In July, I actually got to try the airline out with my golden retriever, Lulu, on a flight from NYC to London, and can attest to the careful attention Bark Air pays to its furry customers. There were many surprises along the way, which you can read and watch more about.
As for whether Bark Air will continue to expand its more affordable options, your dog will have something to woof about in the future. The February flights “are just the start,” Novotny said. “We’re already exploring new routes to bring this experience to even more dogs and their people.”
