- The airline’s Cabin-Ready Canines program offers a new path to travel certification for customers whose service dogs have been trained outside of a recognized organization
- Currently available in Ontario and Quebec, K-9 Country Inn independently evaluates service dogs that do not currently have certification issued by recognized organizations and are required for travel
MONTRÉAL, June 2, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Air Canada, in partnership with K-9 Country Inn, today launched Cabin-Ready Canines, a new, industry-leading initiative designed to enable customers with owner-trained service dogs to travel safely on Air Canada flights.
Currently, many customers with service dogs trained by their owner or trained outside of a recognized organization do not have an official way to confirm their dog’s required training status to travel on Air Canada. There is no national standard for service dog certification and certification programs are not available in all provinces.
Air Canada’s partnership with K-9 Country Inn, a respected Canadian non-profit organization with more than 40 years of experience in dog training and dedicated experience in training and evaluating service dogs since 2013, provides a solution for travelers requiring air travel service dog certification through independent assessment and evaluation.
“Service dogs play a critical role in clients’ independence and we are excited to launch this partnership with K-9 Country Inn. Based on feedback from the disability community, we have worked closely with K-9 Country Inn and its experienced trainers, who are also people with disabilities, to provide leadership in developing a practical solution to a complex accessibility challenge. With our Cabin-Ready Canines program, we hope to demonstrate that viable solutions are possible to enable more customers with service dogs to travel with dignity and confidence,” said Kerianne Wilson, Director, Customer Accessibility at Air Canada.
“Owner-trained service dogs support the independence of countless Canadians, but there has long been a lack of a consistent way to demonstrate that these dogs meet the standards required for safe public access. With Air Canada’s Cabin-Ready Canines program, we are proud to provide an independent, credible assessment that protects the public and legitimate service dog teams. Our organization is committed to ensuring safe, accessible and barrier-free travel for all teams. This partnership reflects our “We reflect a shared commitment to providing the security they need to move through the world without obstacles,” said Laura MacKenzie, founder and CEO of K-9 Country Inn.
“As a trainer and person with a disability, I see firsthand the profound impact a well-trained service dog can have, but also the stress that comes when there are no certification options. This program fills a real gap. By evaluating owner-trained dogs to the same standards used throughout the service dog community, we help travelers demonstrate their dog’s readiness while ensuring the safety of everyone on board. Helping more teams embrace the independence they have is incredibly rewarding deserve to move through the world,” said Brit Williams, a service dog handler for 13 years and also a senior instructor and trainer at K-9 Country.
Here’s how Air Canada’s Cabin Ready Canines program works:
- Air Canada’s Accessibility Services team will refer eligible customers to K-9 Country Inn for an independent assessment. Air Canada is not involved in the evaluation itself. There is a fee for this assessment, which will be administered by K-9 Country Inn.
- Once a dog passes the assessment, the customer receives an official K-9 Country Inn certification and photo ID that Air Canada staff can verify through the K-9 Country Inn database.
- This verified entry serves as proof of travel eligibility and is valid for two years, allowing the customer to follow Air Canada’s standard booking process.
- The program delivers meaningful impact through an expedited process and secure database, providing peace of mind to eligible customers.
- Importantly, the program applies to both domestic and international travel, highlighting its scope and reach. Travel to and from the United States is not included as documentation requirements are governed by applicable US law.
- Currently, K-9 Country Inn offers testing in English and French in the Toronto and Montreal regions. They will monitor demand in other markets not currently served by state certification programs for owner-trained service dogs.
- The program will be adapted from similar processes used in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia. All dogs that have a provincial certification, as well as those trained by ADI, IGDF or other recognized organizations, are exempt from participating in this assessment.
Learn more about Air Canada’s Cabin Ready Canines program
Learn more about our accessibility services and initiatives
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flagship airline and a founding member of Star Alliance®, the world’s most comprehensive air transport network. Headquartered in Montreal, Air Canada offers scheduled flights direct to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and internationally on six continents. It has a four-star rating from Skytrax. Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is Canada’s leading travel loyalty program with more than 10 million members worldwide. Members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network with more than 50 airlines as well as an extensive selection of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, the company offers a selection of vacation and flight and hotel packages, tours, cruises, rental cars, excursions and a variety of activities and experiences. Its cargo division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air cargo transportation and connectivity to hundreds of destinations on six continents using Air Canada’s passenger and cargo aircraft. Air Canada’s climate ambitions include a long-term goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For more information, see Air Canada’s TCFD disclosure. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX (AC) in Canada and the OTCQX (ACDVF) in the United States
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