Which UK Airports Accept Pets?

Published on October 30, 2026

Pets flying into England or Scotland can only land at a short list of UK airports, and only on airlines the UK government has approved to carry them. As of the government’s 23 October 2026 update, commercial airlines can bring pets into six airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle. Every pet arrives as manifest cargo and clears through an animal reception centre before heading home.

That’s the short answer. The longer one is where most pet parents get surprised: the airline you book decides which airport your pet can land at, and even which building at that airport clears them. If you’re moving a pet from the US, the airline you choose matters even more, since several major US carriers aren’t approved at all.

Why the Airline Decides the Airport

Great Britain doesn’t approve airports on their own. It approves pairings: a specific airline, landing at a specific airport, with an approved reception centre to check the pet. The Animal and Plant Health Agency publishes that list, and it’s busier than most people expect.

So an airline can fly a daily nonstop into Heathrow and still not be able to carry your dog on it. And an approved airline may only be approved at one of the airports it serves.

Which UK Airports Accept Pets on Commercial Flights?

• London Heathrow has two reception facilities. The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) is run by the City of London Corporation. A second facility is run by Animal Aircare. Which one handles your pet depends on the airline, not on you.
• London Gatwick clears pets through its animal reception centre on the cargo side of the airport.
• Manchester clears pets through an approved animal reception centre at the airport’s cargo terminal. 
• Edinburgh has far more approved airlines than Glasgow, including Delta, Air Canada and WestJet, which makes it the main option for landing pets in Scotland.
• Glasgow and Newcastle appear for only a handful of carriers, such as Emirates SkyCargo, Air France-KLM’s cargo division and TUI Airways. None of them is a US airline, so pets flying from the US rarely land there.

A few edges worth knowing. No Welsh airport appears for commercial airlines, so pets moving to Wales usually land in England and finish the trip by road. Northern Ireland runs its own pet import rules through DAERA, so the Great Britain list doesn’t cover Belfast. Private and charter flights have a much longer list of airfields, but only for approved charter operators.

Which Airlines Fly Pets From the US to the UK?

These are the carriers on the GOV.UK commercial list that pet parents in the US are most likely to book, with the UK airports each is approved to land pets at.

A few names are missing on purpose. As of the 23 October 2026 update, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue don’t appear on the commercial list, even though all three fly US to London passenger routes.

Two more details shape which row actually works. American Airlines is approved to land pets only at Heathrow, so a pet flying American arrives in London, even if the new home is in Manchester or Scotland. Connecting itineraries add another layer: if a pet changes planes on the way, the connecting country’s transit rules apply too, not just the UK’s. 

What Happens at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre?

Pets flying American Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada or WestJet into Heathrow clear through HARC. It’s the live animal border control post for Heathrow, run by the City of London Corporation and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Here’s how arrival usually runs:

1. After landing, your pet is collected from the aircraft in a climate-controlled vehicle and driven to the reception centre, not to baggage claim. Dogs and cats settle into their own kennel while they wait. 
2. Your pet’s microchip is scanned and checked against the Great Britain pet health certificate and the rest of the original paperwork. HARC staff handle these checks for most pets, while the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) checks pets travelling as commercial shipments.
3. Once the checks are complete, HARC contacts your UK nominated agent, who clears your pet through customs. Owners can’t do this part themselves, which is one reason a pet relocation team handles UK arrivals. 
4. On average, pets are ready to collect within 2 to 4 hours of arrival, longer on busy days or if a document needs a query. 
5. Once cleared, your pet is released to you or to your pet relocation team for the drive home.

While a pet is in the customs-controlled area, photos and updates usually aren’t possible. Quiet stretches during those hours are normal, not a sign of trouble.

HARC sits on the airport’s cargo side, outside the passenger terminals, so it isn’t somewhere you can walk to from arrivals. If you’re collecting your own pet, you’ll need photo ID, the air waybill number, and a lead and collar if you’re collecting a dog. It’s worth waiting until clearance is confirmed before heading over. With door-to-door service, your pet relocation team handles the collection and delivers your pet to your new home.

Why We Route UK Moves Through Heathrow

Heathrow has more approved airlines than any other UK airport. We’ve routed pets through Heathrow for years, and it’s where our team has completed many successful UK moves.

Landing in London doesn’t mean ending up in London. Pets we’ve brought in through Heathrow have gone on to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester, Bristol, Brighton, Southampton and Bournemouth, and smaller towns from Tenterden to Rugeley. Our ground transport team handles the drive from Heathrow to your new home. Pet parents who’d rather collect at the airport can choose our Door-to-Arrival Airport Service instead.

Can You Fly Into Dublin or Paris and Drive Your Pet to the UK?

It’s possible, but it isn’t a shortcut. Travel from the Republic of Ireland into Great Britain doesn’t require an approved route, but your pet still has to enter Ireland under Ireland’s own import rules and then meet Great Britain’s. Routing through France or another EU country means the same two sets of rules. For moves from the US, we fly pets directly into Heathrow, so there’s one import, one set of paperwork and one arrival to coordinate.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Book

Before committing to a flight, it helps to have clear answers to these:

• Is this airline on the current GOV.UK list for the airport you plan to land at?
• Is the airline’s cargo program accepting pets from your departure city right now, including any seasonal heat restrictions?
• Which reception centre will clear your pet, and how far is it from your new home?
• Is the flight going directly to the UK, or does it connect somewhere first? 
• Who is collecting your pet once clearance is done?

If more than one of these comes back uncertain, a pet relocation counselor can map out a route before anything gets booked. For the paperwork side of the move, see our guides on UK entry requirements and moving a pet from the US to the UK step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which UK airports accept pets? On commercial flights, pets can arrive at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle, but only on airlines approved for that specific airport. The approved pairings are listed on GOV.UK and change often.

What is the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre? HARC is the government-approved border control post where pets arriving at Heathrow are checked and cleared. It’s run by the City of London Corporation and is open 24 hours a day.

Is there more than one animal reception centre at Heathrow? Yes. Heathrow has HARC and a second facility run by Animal Aircare. The airline your pet flies with determines which one handles the clearance.

How long does pet clearance take at Heathrow? Typically 2 to 4 hours from landing when the paperwork is in order. Busy days and document questions can stretch that.

Does every airline that flies to London accept pets? No. As of October 2026, United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue aren’t on the UK’s approved commercial list, even though they fly passenger routes from the US to London.

Can a pet fly into Wales or Northern Ireland? No Welsh airport appears on the commercial list, so pets for Wales usually land in England. Northern Ireland follows its own rules through DAERA, separate from the Great Britain list.

Can a pet arrive at a UK airport in the cabin or as checked baggage? Only recognised assistance dogs can travel in the cabin into Great Britain. Pets arrive as manifest cargo. 

Where do I pick up my pet at Heathrow? At the reception centre that cleared them, on the airport’s cargo side, once clearance is confirmed. Bring photo ID, the air waybill number, and a lead and collar if you’re collecting a dog, or have your pet relocation team collect your pet for you.

If your preferred airline didn’t make the list, or you’re still choosing between airports, our team can help you sort out the route. Request a quote to get started.