BARK Air Will Launch Puppy-Focused Flights From Westchester Airport

HARRISON, NY — Westchester County Airport will launch a new kind of air travel experience in a few weeks, but if you are reading this, then you aren't their target demographic.

BARK Air promises to deliver a "white paw experience" for dogs only. The startup carrier said it built its flight experience with dogs in mind. Upon booking, humans will be contacted by a BARK Air concierge to collect information about the dog traveling and the human's travel plans with a happy reunion in mind.

While BarkAir is a public charter operator, not a direct air carrier, and does not own or operate any aircraft, the dog-centric experience is gaining a loyal following. All flights are operated by a licensed U.S. air carrier.

According to BARK Air, the experience is much like traveling private, but with special attention for the four-legged travelers. Dogs and their people arrive at the airport 45 minutes to an hour before the flight for a simple, efficient check-in process — no crates and no stressful TSA checkpoints. The BARK Air concierge takes it from there, welcoming the flying pups and helping them settle in to the cabin.

"When we started BARK in 2011, we were on a mission to disrupt the dog space and create products designed for dogs and their humans," BARK founder Matt Meeker explains. "We are excited to take the insights we’ve learned over the years to create an experience that is truly dog-first, which is drastically different from just accepting dogs – from the ground to the skies."

The cabin of the aircraft will be prepped with calming aids, including pheromones, music, warm lavender-scented refreshment towels, and other dog-specific comforts. The concierges even have a 'just in case' bag filled with calming treats, leashes, and poop bags.

Once on board, dogs will be served their beverage of choice during ascent and descent, to ensure they do not experience any ear discomfort commonly caused by the change in cabin pressure. In addition, a variety of BARK-branded treats, snacks and surprises will be served.

At launch, routes will serve the New York City metro area via Westchester County Airport (HPN), with flights to the Los Angeles area via Van Nuys (VNY) and London, England via Stansted Airport (STN).

Through the partnership, a charter company is responsible for all aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance-related matters, while BARK is focused on creating and delivering a world-class air travel experience for dogs and their people, according to the company.

To book a flight with your best friend or find out more, visit the Bark Air website here.