Search and rescue dogs given free cabin travel on selected easyJet flights

easyJet has partnered with the Search & Rescue Dog Association Ireland North (SARDA IN) to allow free cabin travel for specially trained dogs, facilitating their deployment to critical incidents.

easyJet aims to reduce the potential stress and risks of transporting highly-trained dogs to life-saving missions by allowing cabin travel on selected flights from the UK.

Announcing the partnership today, easyJet UK Country Manager Ali Gayward commented:

easyJet is incredibly proud to be able to support Search & Rescue Dog Association Ireland North.  As the largest airline in the UK and in Northern Ireland, it is a great privilege for us to be able to offer our network of over 560 routes from 21 UK airports, to help their teams deploy quickly to wherever they are needed most for their life-saving missions.

SARDA IN Training Officer Raph O’Connor said:

As a volunteer-based organisation and registered charity, SARDA IN deeply values the critical support provided by easyJet. Their offer of free flights enables our dedicated handlers and highly trained USAR dogs to be rapidly deployed to international disaster zones. This invaluable assistance will ensure that we can reach those in urgent need without delay, allowing us to focus on saving lives, knowing that travel logistics are no longer a barrier.

The partnership reflects easyJet’s continued presence in Northern Ireland following its launch of new routes from Derry earlier this month.

What does SARDA IN do?

SARDA IN dogs search for missing people in the mountains, open country, forests, urban areas and watercourses. They have responded to disasters and tragedies in the UK, Ireland and abroad for over 40 years.

They are deployed to urgent incidents by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, Mountain Rescue Teams and Ireland’s national police service, the Gardaí.

Previous missions include responding to earthquakes in Turkey, the Lockerbie Air Disaster, and the aftermath of 9/11.

The charity currently has 16 qualified search and rescue (SAR) dogs and 8 trainee SAR dogs.

SARDA IN joins existing easyJet charitable partners including its long-standing Change for Good campaign with UNICEF.

What do you think of SAR dogs travelling in easyJet cabins? Let us know in the comments below!