Final Flights: COVID19 Lockdown

Pet Transport NZ is considered an essential service. Up until the borders closed and the last airlines were grounded, we were working hard for our clients in our office to find viable international pet travel solutions and domestic flights.  We continue to work from home, available by phone, email and social media providing the same high level of service and quality consultation as ever before.  In the last few weeks we have seen a dynamic shift in the freight forwarding and pet air travel industry.  Fielding regular phone calls from airlines and the Ministry of Primary Industries, we shall remain a reliable, credible up to the minute, source of industry information for our clients.

Pet Transport NZ's final flier was Nemo the Bichon Frise on Monday the 30th of March. He departed for Hong Kong with his human from Auckland Airport aboard Cathay Pacific.

These last few weeks have been a time of particularly high stress levels for essential travellers trying to return home from New Zealand with their beloved pets. It was our pleasure to be able to offer the calm reassurance of consistent care to both humans and furry friends in their homeward bound pet transport.  Nemo was fortunate to make it on the same flight as his human was as PAX onboard.  Not all were so lucky.  For those who are still intending to return home after lockdown, we encourage you to keep up with our notifications and updates so you can be ready to move as soon as pet travel embargoes are lifted.

Pet Transport client Bear the Boxer dog inside his travel crate ready to board his flight to Brisbane from Auckland in the midst of COVID19 lockdown.

Bear and Kaydo the Boxer dogs were bound for Brisbane with another pet travel carrier who withdrew their service when lockdown started.  We were fortunate to be able to find a viable travel route to Australia for these pups and their people.  With airlines and borders closing by the hour it was not possible for us to offer solutions to all our clients, especially to those travelling further afield.  For those intending to fly at the end of isolation we encourage you to use this time at home to prepare for your imminent travel.  Our COVID19 blog series will help detail the steps you need to follow to take advantage of the first flight routes when they become accessible.

Pet Transport NZ client Raj the Maltese Dog sitting in his travel crate ready to board his flight to Perth from New Zealand during COVID19 lockdown with help from Pet Transport NZ.

Our littlest passenger this week was Raj the Maltese dog who flew to Perth on Thursday.  All of these furry fliers were incredibly lucky to travel aboard the last of the viable pet transport routes during COVID19 lockdown.  As things continue to evolve both here and overseas, we encourage you to stay safe in your homes and use this time to prepare for future travel opportunities.   Now is the ideal time to commence crate training and as vets are considered an essential service, you can complete your required vaccinations schedule as per usual.   Don't forget to wash your dog with soapy water regularly!

A social media tile from the World Health Organisation with recommendations for COVID19 we encourage all our Pet Transport NZ clients to follow during this period of isolation.

We are very fortunate to have an open line of communication with both airlines and MPI.  Please be aware we are experiencing a higher than usual call volume at this time.  Your support and understanding is appreciated.  The information we receive from the government and airline will be first filtered to our clients to enable them to make sounds transport plans and then our wider pet travel community online.  If you are intending to return home with your pets, either abroad or domestically, we would be happy to help plan your pet transport.  A quick call to our phone +6492560999 will redirect you to the pet travel consultant of your choice.  Otherwise, we continue to be available by email, via quote request form or follow our updates on social media.  We look forward to helping you and your pets return safely home, just as we have been doing for 3 generations.  Be safe, be kind, ​be ready to travel again very soon.  Best wishes, Pet Transport NZ.