Mars Petcare teamed up with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) to launch the Better Cities for Pets certification for airports.

The certification ensures airports embrace the right pet-friendly enhancements and solutions across the U.S. Nashville International Airport (BNA) was the first airport to receive the certification with its installation of amenities such as a dog park, two outside curbside relief areas and another relief area in the post security section of the terminal.

Why Should Airports Consider Better Cities for Pets Certification?

Lisa Campbell, director of external affairs with Mars Petcare said an online survey of U.S. pet owners showed 85 percent of pet parents are likely to travel within the next year and 65 percent said they want to bring their pets along. Pets provide companionship, stress relief and other health benefits. Mars Petcare is encouraging other airports to consider the new airport certification and make their own pet-friendly upgrades and additions to ensure a more safe and enjoyable travel experience for all.

As the desire of travelers changes, it is important for airport stakeholders to evolve in order to not only keep up with, but stay ahead of the changing customer experience landscape. Basaria said they’re confident the airport certification will be another valuable tool airports can use to ensure they are doing just that.

 What Does Better Cities for Pets Certification Mean?

Gwen Basaria, vice president, member experience & AAAE Foundation said this certification means an airport is providing a pet-friendly experience to travelers and focusing on key areas such as how they welcome pets and their people, pet-friendly places within the airport, proper wayfinding and signage to find those spaces and the overall traveler experience.

It was important for AAAE to work closely with Mars Petcare as they established the Airport Certification assessment to ensure that the focus is helping each airport prioritize the safety and ease of travel for all – including pet parents and their pets, other travelers, and the airport employees.

What Steps Go into Better Cities for Pets Certification?

Airports must be located within 90 miles of a Better Cities for Pets certified city to be eligible to apply. While most airports accommodate service animals, pets must be explicitly included in policies and programs to be eligible for the certification.

An online Airport Certification Assessment was developed in partnership with AAAE and Civic Design Center, leveraging their insights and industry expertise. The organizations provided feedback and guidance on the certification assessment, including input on relevant amenity enhancements and solutions, facilitating welcoming, safe and comfortable environments for pets, pet parents and all other travelers.

The online assessment includes five sections to understand pet-friendliness at your airport:

• Welcoming Pets and Their People
• Wayfinding and Signage
• Pet-Friendly Places in Your Airport
• Incidents and Accidents
• Customer Experience and Engagement

The assessment takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Once finished, you will be contacted about your results within two weeks.

What Resources are Available to Airports to Make an Airport Pet-Friendly?

Better Cities for Pets offers a Pet-Friendly Airport Toolkit with resources for airports to utilize as they consider how to create more welcoming environments for people and their pets. Toolkit resources include ways to welcome pets, tips for pet-friendly wayfinding and signage, best practices for airport relief areas, planning for pet-related incidents and accidents and more ways to help travelers with pets and service animals.

For more information on how to apply for city and airport certification, visit bettercitiesforpets.com/resource/airport.