Travel Crate Sizing

The IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) were created to standardize how live animals are handled and transported by air worldwide, covering everything from household pets to livestock and protected wildlife species. The manual sets shared requirements for crate construction, labeling, documentation, and handling procedures so that shippers, airline staff, freight forwarders, and government authorities are all working from the same rulebook regardless of which airline or country is involved.

Airlines and customs agencies commonly require compliance with the LAR for international pet shipments, since it gives every party in the chain -- from check-in staff to customs officials -- a consistent standard to check crates against. The regulations are revised and republished annually to reflect updated species guidance and regulatory changes.

Beyond crate sizing, many airlines apply additional restrictions on which animals they will carry, independent of IATA's container requirements. A common example is the restriction or outright refusal to transport brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dog breeds -- including French Bulldogs, Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers -- in the cargo hold.

These breeds have anatomical airway narrowing that makes them prone to overheating and severe breathing difficulty under the stress, temperature swings, and reduced air pressure of air travel, which raises their risk of death in transit. Flat-faced cat breeds carry similar anatomical airway risks, and some carriers extend comparable caution to them, though exact policies vary by airline. Because these restrictions are set independently of the IATA sizing formula, owners of affected breeds should confirm current policy directly with the airline before booking travel.