Animal Travel Services is advertising a charter flight from Cape Town to the UK on March 5, which is able to accommodate 100 passengers as well as a number of pets.
The estimated cost of a one-way ticket will be:
- R26 500 per passenger
- R26 500 per small pet
- R35 000 per medium pet
- R45 000 per large pet
According to an agent source, the flight will land in Farnborough Airport, which is a private airport about an hour’s drive west of London.
The company says passengers will each be entitled to 150kg of baggage. Passengers will be fast-tracked through SA customs to board the private aircraft and will also be cleared through immigration and customs immediately on their arrival in the UK, as they are landing at a private airport. Passenger details can be changed at short notice for the flight and discounts for groups are available. Charges would apply for cancellations.
For the pets, Animal Travel Services assists with pre-veterinary clearance prior to arrival to ensure fast release of pets from the flight. They can then be delivered to the client’s residence on arrival. Access to pets in the cabin is possible but requires prior arrangement and costs extra.
“Should we not be able to fill the aircraft this flight will not be viable and we would refund fees received towards the charter. Refunds will be done by EFT to South African bank accounts. Payments made via our online portals will incur a surcharge,” says Animal Travel Services.
Full prepayment of bookings must be made no later than February 19.
Travel News understands from telephone conversations with Animal Travel Services that the flight involves a stopover to comply with UK travel regulations, which currently do not permit direct flights from South Africa to the UK. It is unknown where the stopover will be. Passengers will also need to comply with the new UK hotel quarantine requirements, says the company.
