Every HansJet pilot is now certified through Pets On Jets® – a dedicated veterinary training programme for aviation professionals – setting a new industry benchmark for pet welfare in private aviation
HansJet, one of Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading Pilatus PC-12 private jet operators, has announced that every pilot across its fleet has completed comprehensive pet aviation safety training and certification through Pets On Jets®, a dedicated veterinary training and certification programme designed specifically for aviation professionals handling pets on board private aircraft.
The milestone means HansJet pilots now hold veterinary-grade pet safety certification – raising the bar for animal welfare standards in European private aviation.
The certification comes as the global pet travel market approaches €3.9 billion by 2030, with 37% of families now travelling with pets – up 19% over the past decade – and 38.7% of private jet travellers planning to fly with their pets within the next year. The recent controversial EU court ruling, which legally classified pets in commercial airline cargo holds as ‘baggage’ rather than family members, has further intensified demand for operators who treat animal welfare as a professional discipline rather than an afterthought.
“Pet travel isn’t a novelty service – it’s fundamental to how families fly today. This certification ensures our crew are trained to the highest veterinary standards in the industry. When a member’s French Bulldog boards one of our aircraft, our pilots can recognise signs of respiratory distress. When an anxious rescue dog takes its first flight, our crew know how to create a calm environment. That’s the difference between welcoming pets on board and genuinely caring for them,” says Eric Weisskopf, Managing Director at HansJet.
What the Pets On Jets® Certification Covers
Pets On Jets® is a registered veterinary training and certification programme for aviation professionals, setting a new benchmark for hospitality, care, and emergency response for pets travelling on private aircraft. Every HansJet pilot has completed training across seven core competencies:
- Basic competence in animal handling across species
- Stress-free environments tailored to individual pet needs
- Reading body language – perception of wellbeing or discomfort and appropriate reaction to normal or abnormal behaviour
- Restraint techniques and vital parameter monitoring, including temperature, heart rate, and respiratory assessment
- First aid including CPR for pets in normal and abnormal flight operations
- Animal handling in aeronautical emergency situations – specialised protocols for in-flight incidents
- Medication administration – safe handling and delivery when required
This specialised certification ensures HansJet’s crew can identify signs of distress, monitor health indicators, respond to medical concerns, and create a calm environment for every companion on board.
The Pets On Jets® Expert Team
The Pets On Jets® certification programme is led by Dr. Sebastian Gehrig, an active veterinarian and EASA/FAA Airline Transport Pilot with operational experience on transport aircraft (A320F) and business jets (C525). The programme is supported by a board of experts including Diplomates in Emergency and Critical Care, RECOVER-certified instructors, animal life support specialists, nutritionists, and professional dog trainers – combining veterinary science with aviation expertise.
Part of HansJet’s Comprehensive Pet Travel Experience
The crew certification forms a central pillar of HansJet’s dedicated pet travel service, launched alongside the company’s innovative membership programme. The experience centres on in-cabin travel aboard HansJet’s fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, where dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and reptiles travel beside their owners with no size or weight restrictions. Each flight includes plush beds and quality blankets, gourmet treats tailored to dietary needs, and safety harnesses for take-off and landing.
The HansJet team handles every detail: pre-flight care, complete UK and European documentation, pet-friendly ground transport, and customs clearance at private terminals where pets remain with their owners throughout. Concierge services by Hans Travel & Lifestyle locate pet-welcoming hotels, villas, and resorts across the continent.
“We’re witnessing a generational shift in what constitutes family travel, with 18.8 million Gen Z households now owning pets. Our members’ travel decisions increasingly revolve around their companions, and they deserve to know that their crew aren’t simply pet-friendly – they’re pet-qualified. This certification reflects our commitment to treating every passenger, two-legged or four, with the same standard of care,” adds Weisskopf
For more information, visit www.hansjet.com.