Ethiopian Airlines takes cats and dogs in the cabin and in the hold, which makes it one of the few African carriers you can book with a pet on a normal passenger ticket. In the cabin, the pet and its container together can weigh up to 8 kg, in a box no bigger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Heavier pets up to 45 kg including the cage travel in the hold, and anything over 45 kg goes as cargo. Snub-nosed breeds are not accepted.
Fees depend on the route. On flights from Addis Ababa to US airports, Ethiopian charges USD 300 for a pet in the cabin and USD 500 in the hold. On other international routes, a cabin pet costs USD 150 one way, and a hold pet USD 370 or USD 500 depending on weight. The details below come from Ethiopian's travelling with pets page, with its fee table revised from June 20, 2025, and from an Ethiopian Cargo notice on pets flying into the US. We checked both in November 2026.
Ethiopian flies to several US cities, including Washington Dulles, and connects through Addis Ababa to most of Africa. That makes it a common choice for families moving between the US and East or West Africa with a cat or dog.
Ethiopian Airlines pet rules at a glance
| Route | Cabin pet (up to 8 kg with container) | Hold pet |
|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa to US airports | USD 300 | USD 500 |
| Between other Ethiopian international points | USD 150, EUR 120 or GBP 110 one way | USD 370 one way (over 8 kg up to 32 kg), USD 500 one way (over 32 kg up to 45 kg) |
| Ethiopian domestic flights | USD 100 one way | Charged at a multiple of the excess baggage rate |
| Pet and cage over 45 kg | Not accepted | Not accepted as baggage; ships as cargo |
Ethiopian's page also has a line saying pet charges follow excess baggage rates, which sits awkwardly next to the fixed fees. Treat the table as the best guide, and confirm the exact charge for your route with Ethiopian before you travel. Other stations can charge different amounts because of local handling agents.
Which pets Ethiopian takes
Ethiopian accepts only dogs and cats in the cabin. The hold rules on its pet page also deal with cats and dogs. If you want to fly a bird, rabbit or reptile, you will need to speak to Ethiopian Cargo, and many destinations have their own rules for those animals.
Snub-nosed dog and cat breeds are not accepted at all, because of breathing risks caused by stress and temperature changes during travel. That covers breeds such as Pugs, bulldogs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Persians and Himalayans. Our guide to the snub-nosed breed flying rules explains why so many airlines draw this line.
Cabin rules and limits per flight
A cabin pet must be in a container no larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm, and the pet plus container must weigh no more than 8 kg. The container goes under the seat in front of you, so a soft-sided carrier with good ventilation usually works best. Weigh the pet in the carrier at home. A cat or dog right at the limit will be tight in a 20 cm high box.
Ethiopian limits how many pets can sit in each cabin. On its wide-body aircraft, such as the 787 and A350, it takes up to four pets in economy and two in business. On narrow-body aircraft, the limit is two in economy and one in business. Those spaces go quickly, which is the main reason to book early.
Pets in the hold
If your pet and cage together weigh more than 8 kg, or the cage is bigger than the cabin limit, the pet travels in the hold. Ethiopian takes pets up to 45 kg including the cage this way, as accompanied baggage on your ticket. You check the pet in at the airport and collect it at your destination.
Above 45 kg, the pet has to go as cargo through Ethiopian Cargo, following cargo procedures rather than baggage rules. That usually means a separate booking, an air waybill and drop-off at the cargo terminal. Large breed owners moving to or from Africa often use a pet shipper for this, since the cargo side has more steps.
Use a sturdy, rigid crate that meets the IATA Live Animals Regulations, with room for your pet to stand, turn and lie down, ventilation on several sides, and a water dish that can be filled from outside. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate covers sizing.
How to book a pet with Ethiopian
Ethiopian says advance arrangements are needed for every pet, whether it flies in the cabin or the hold. When you book, give the type of pet and the size of its container. The easiest route is to call Ethiopian or visit a ticket office soon after you book your own seat, so the pet space is confirmed in your booking before you pay for anything else.
For flights into the US, Ethiopian Cargo says the documents must be sent at least 48 hours before departure to its special cargo booking team. Staff check that the breed, colour and microchip number match across every document, and that your US arrival airport matches any animal care facility booking. Leave more time than that if you can.
Ethiopian's pet rules follow its own flights. On a codeshare, the operating airline's pet policy applies, and on an interline connection with another airline, that airline's policy applies for its leg. If your trip includes a flight on a partner, check that partner's rules too.
Flying a dog into the US on Ethiopian
Dogs entering the US face the CDC import rules, and Ethiopian's cargo notice sets out what it checks. The dog must look healthy on arrival, have a microchip readable by a universal scanner, and be at least six months old. You need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, which is valid for one entry on the arrival date shown, in the long version with a photo of the dog.
Then the vaccination history decides the rest. A dog vaccinated against rabies outside the US must have a booking at a CDC-registered animal care facility, and the flight must arrive at an airport with that facility. Ethiopian's notice lists Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Philadelphia. A dog vaccinated in the US needs a US-issued rabies vaccination certification form completed by a vet and endorsed by the government.
Many African countries Ethiopian serves are on the CDC high risk list for dog rabies, which is why these rules bite on this route. Our guide on importing a dog into the US explains the CDC process from start to finish. Cats don't face the same CDC rules, but some US states have their own entry requirements.
Flying a pet out of the US to Africa
On the outbound trip, the paperwork depends on the destination country, and Ethiopian expects you to have it in order. Most countries want a microchip, a rabies vaccination, and a health certificate issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS within a set number of days before travel. Some also need an import permit issued in advance. Ethiopian says pet acceptance rules vary by country and suggests checking with its nearest office or agent.
Ask the destination country's veterinary authority or embassy for its current rules several months before you move. Some countries add tests or a waiting period after the rabies shot. Our guide on relocating a pet internationally lays out the steps in order.
Connecting in Addis Ababa
Most Ethiopian itineraries connect through Addis Ababa Bole. A pet in the cabin simply stays with you through the transfer. A pet in the hold is transferred between aircraft by ground staff as long as the whole trip is on one Ethiopian ticket. Leave a comfortable connection time, ideally a few hours, so there is no rush to move a crate. A very long layover means a long time in a crate, so weigh that against an overnight stop.
If you have a separate ticket for the onward flight, the pet is not transferred for you, and you may have to collect it and check in again, which can raise import questions in Ethiopia. Keep the whole journey on one Ethiopian booking where you can. Our guide on connecting flights with a pet covers the general rules.
Service dogs and emotional support animals
Seeing-eye dogs and hearing dogs can travel in the cabin free of charge, harnessed and muzzled, with advance arrangements and subject to local government rules. Ethiopian treats them separately from pets, so they don't use up the cabin pet spaces.
Emotional support and psychiatric service animals are not accepted in the cabin unless you show documentation from a licensed mental health professional on official letterhead, no more than one year old. Rules at the destination still apply. On flights to the US, CDC entry rules for dogs apply whether the dog is a pet or a service animal.
Fees: what you pay and when
Ethiopian's pet fee is charged whether or not the pet fits within your free baggage allowance. From Addis Ababa to a US airport, a cabin pet costs USD 300 and a hold pet USD 500. Ask Ethiopian to confirm the charge for the US to Addis direction, which the table doesn't list separately. On other international routes, a cabin pet up to 8 kg costs USD 150, EUR 120 or GBP 110 one way, a hold pet over 8 kg up to 32 kg costs USD 370, and a hold pet over 32 kg up to 45 kg costs USD 500. Domestic Ethiopian flights charge USD 100 one way for a cabin pet.
The fee is per direction, so a round trip costs double. Pay at the airport or through an Ethiopian office as your booking instructs, and keep the receipt with your pet's documents.
Preparing a pet for a long haul flight
A flight from Washington to Addis Ababa runs around 13 hours, and onward connections add more. Start crate training weeks ahead by feeding meals inside the crate and leaving the door open, so the pet treats it as its own space. Take the pet on short car rides in the crate to get it used to motion and noise.
On the day, give a light meal about four hours before check-in rather than a big meal just before. Walk a dog well before you leave for the airport. Line the crate with an absorbent pad and add something that smells of home. For a cabin pet, carry a spare pad, wipes and a small bag of food in your own hand luggage, and keep the carrier zipped for the whole flight.
Mistakes that get pets refused at check-in
Most refusals come down to paperwork that doesn't line up. A microchip number that differs by one digit between the health certificate and the CDC form, a breed written differently on two documents, or a health certificate issued outside the destination's time window can all stop a pet at the counter. Read every document side by side before you leave home.
The other common problem is a crate that is too small or not built to airline rules. Check that your pet can stand without its head touching the top, turn around and lie down, and that the door locks securely. If the pet isn't booked in advance, there may simply be no space left on the flight.
Liability and the small print
Ethiopian's pet page says the owner accepts the risks of injury, illness or death in transit and is responsible for meeting every legal requirement. The airline isn't liable if a pet is refused entry to or transit through any country. That is standard in airline pet terms, but it is worth knowing before you book, especially on a long route with a connection.
Ask your vet whether the pet is fit for a long flight, and don't sedate it without the vet's advice. Freeze water in the crate dish the night before, and attach a small bag of food to the outside in case of a delay.