IATA and IPATA Approved Animal Travel Box Selection Guide

IATA Certified Animal Travel Box Selection Guide: How to choose your pet's flight cage without the risk of rejection at the airport? (2026)

The biggest nightmare any traveler can have with their dog or cat on the day of the trip is that the airport counter clerk refuses to pick up the animal due to a Pet Travel Crate defect. Airlines do not waver in applying IATA Live Animals Regulations; if a dog's ear touches the roof of the box, or the fixing screws are plastic rather than metal, your pet's flight will be canceled immediately even if their paperwork and vaccinations are 100% complete.

In this practical guide, we convey to you our daily field experience in processing and shipping hundreds of animals from Cairo airport and international airports, to show you in figures how to accurately measure your pet, how to choose the right size, and what small details in the cage the aviation inspector and the veterinary quarantine focus on.

Table of Contents

• 1. Strict rules that airlines look for in a travel cage
• 2. How do you measure your pet with a tunnel to know the size of the required box?
• 3. Table of sizes of commercial aviation boxes (from size 100 to 700)
• 4. Reinforced Plastic Boxes vs. Custom Wooden Boxes (CR82)
• 5. 6 Small details in the box cause immediate refusal to travel
• 6. Animal Travel & Shipping Box FAQs

1. Strict rules that airlines look for in a travel cage

The primary objective of IATA standards is to ensure that the animal remains in a comfortable and safe position throughout the flight and transit hours, and to prevent any attempt to escape or injury during air turbulence. The approved fund must fulfill 4 clear anatomical conditions:

• Standing in complete freedom:The dog or cat should stand upright with its head and ears not touching the ceiling at all (leaving a safety distance of at least 5 to 7 cm above the head).
• 360° Rotation:The cage space should allow the pet to easily turn around and change direction while standing.
• Normal supination:The animal should extend the entire length of its body with its legs straight while sleeping without twisting its limbs on the walls of the box.
• Ambient ventilation:Ventilation openings on at least 3 sides for domestic flights, and on 4 sides for international flights and hot destinations.

To see how size requirements vary between airlines, you can reviewConditions and Weights of Animals Travel on EgyptAirHe

2. How do you measure your pet with a tunnel to know the size of the required box?

Never rely on guesswork with the naked eye or only on the weight of the animal, as two dogs of the same weight may differ completely in the length of the legs or the height of the head. Bring a gauge and record the following four measurements with your pet standing on level ground:

1. (A) Animal Length:Measure from the tip of the nose to the tailline (not counting the length of the tail itself).
2. (B) Elbow height:Measure from the floor to the elbow joint on the front leg.
3. (C) Shoulder Width:Measure the widest point between the animal's shoulders.
4. (D) Overall Height:Measure from the ground to the highest point of the head (or the top of the ears in erect-eared dogs such as German Shepherd and Husky).

IATA Equation for Calculating Minimum Box Dimensions:

• Minimum Inner Box Length:$A + \frac {1}{2}B is equal to $
• Lower Inner Box Width:Equals $C \times $2 (for single animal)
• Lower Inner Box Height:$D + 5\text ${cm}is equal to a vertical safety distance.

3. Table of sizes of commercial aviation boxes (from size 100 to 700)

Internationally standard plastic shipping boxes are divided into famous serial numbers known as (Series). This table shows the common sizes and suitable animal breeds for each:

Remember that choosing the size of the box directly affects volumetric weight calculations and ticket price; to review pricing schedules, seeCost and Calculation Guide for Shipping Animals OutHe

4. Reinforced Plastic Boxes vs. Custom Wooden Boxes (CR82)

Not all animals are allowed to travel inside traditional plastic cages. There are two main types to distinguish:

1. Standard Hard Plastic Crates

It is made of thick impact-resistant plastic and consists of two halves (upper and lower) assembled with bolts and nuts. They are the standard choice for all cats and most domestic pet dog breeds that are not rated as ferocious or ultra-strong.

2. Manufactured wooden boxes (IATA Container Requirement 82-CR82)

Global aviation regulations mandate the use of wooden boxes reinforced with iron frames and thick steel grids for certain breeds that include strong-jawed dogs and ferocious dogs (such as pit bulls, staffordshire, rotwheelers, and mastiffs), or large dogs that exceed the size of the Series 700. These boxes are manufactured with the exact dimensions of the dog and are free from any breakable or biteable plastic pieces.

5. 6 Small details in the box cause immediate refusal to travel

From the daily inspection of cargo at Cairo Airport, these are the most common mistakes that make an aviation employee refuse to load the cage:

1. Plastic Latches:Boxes that are locked with plastic compression plates only without metal nuts & bolts are internationally rejected on all ward trips.
2. Plastic doors or top openings:Boxes with plastic doors or cages that have a top roof door that is easy for the animal to push in and out of are strictly prohibited.
3. Not fixing the water and eating bowl to the door:Airlines require a water bowl installed in the metal door grille so that the worker can fill the water from the outside without opening the door.
4. Motorised wheels.If the box is equipped with wheels, they must be completely disassembled before the box is delivered to the airport, or installed and completely de-moved with strong adhesive tape to prevent it from rolling inside the cargo hold.
5. Absence of green posters:Live Animals and This Way Up arrow stickers should be clearly placed on both sides of the box.
6. Non-absorbent brushes:Place heavy blankets or fabrics that may get wet and cling to the animal's legs; the duty is to place fluid-absorbing training mats (Pee Pads) spread at the bottom.

6. Animal Travel & Shipping Box FAQs

Can two animals be put together in the same box to save cost?

IATA regulations allow two puppies or two kittens to be put together in one cage only if they are less than 6 months old, weigh under 9 kg each, and are accustomed to living together, provided that the box allows them to move together freely. Adult animals must each travel in a completely independent cage.

How do I help my dog or cat get used to the box before the trip?

Buy the box at least two weeks before traveling, put it in the living room with the door removed, put his favorite food and a mattress with the smell of the house inside, and let him enter and exit freely until he feels that it is his safe haven and not a punitive confinement.

Are approved boxes available for sale directly through Alfares Pets?

Yes, we provide all sizes of IATA approved plastic boxes (from size 100 to 700) with metal nails and watering cans, we also make custom wooden boxes (CR82) for large dogs, with delivery service to your door and a measurement experience on your pet before traveling throughInternal transportation and delivery serviceHe

Box Preparation and Testing Services with Alfares Pets

Choosing a travel cage is not just about buying ordinary supplies; it is the separating engineering element that determines whether or not your pet travels at the airport. Do not leave it to chance or experiment in the weigh-in lounge a few hours before the plane takes off.

atAlfares Pets, we measure your pet anatomically, matching its dimensions to the specific airline requirements for your destination traveling throughGlobal Reference Guide for Shipping Animals from Egyptand equipping the cage with all approved metal nails, watering cans and stickers to ensure that its shipment is accepted at first sight in an officeVeterinary Quarantine at Cairo Airport. Contact us today to preview and select the right travel cage for your pet.

Contact Alfares Pets Travel Box Setup

To know the exact size of your pet or to buy a travel box matching IATA including screws and accessories, we are happy to contact you directly:

• WhatsApp Number: +20 102 224 2946
• E-mail info@alfares-pets.com