“We work very closely with them to notify them of our arrival date and time, then they will send a team over here to ensure that the whole process, the inspection, is done smoothly,” said Mr Wong.
Countries are categorised by AVS based on rabies risk level. Destinations deemed rabies-free or low-risk, including Hong Kong, Japan and the US, allow pets to travel and return without quarantine. Countries assessed as rabies-affected, such as Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia, require a minimum 30-day quarantine on arrival, making them one-way destinations for most SingaPaw Air clients.
Planning lead times vary significantly. Japan, for instance, requires eight months of preparation work mandated by the government.
Hong Kong, a four-hour flight from Singapore, is currently the most popular destination for pet holidays. Prices for a return journey start from around US$27,000 for two passengers and one pet. For relocations, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia are more common destinations.
PREPARING FOR A FLIGHT
Each flight is staffed by two pilots and one cabin crew member, who are informed in advance that animals will be on board, said Ms Chai.
Catering is arranged for both humans and animals, accounting for dietary restrictions and special requests.
Emergency procedures are the same as on regular passenger flights, though cabin crew pay additional attention to the animals and are “sort of trained to see when the pet is anxious”, Ms Chai said.
Aircraft used for SingaPaw Air bookings are also used for regular charter flights. Cleaning and disinfection procedures between flights are the same regardless of whether animals have been on board.
To ease animals into the experience, SingaPaw Air recently began offering hour-long “pet discovery flights”, which allow animals to become accustomed to altitude changes and engine noise before a longer journey.
