Delta Air Lines heralded a new age in pet travel on Wednesday with the launch of their innovative new CarePod pet carrier. Through an exclusive partnership with CarePod, the new travel carrier is the culmination of five years of research and a two-month trial.
The state-of-the-art pet carrier is an industry first with innovative features such as real-time updates throughout the flight and a new first-class level of safety. The Delta CarePod will first be rolled out at eight U.S. locations including Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York (JFK and LGA), San Francisco and West Palm Beach and will eventually be phased-in throughout Delta’s domestic network. In Wednesday’s announcement, Delta Cargo’s Vice President, Shawn Cole said,
“Continuous innovation id in Delta’s DNA and the launch of the CarePod pet travel carrier, an industry first, is an example of us seeking out innovative partnerships and looking for ways to improve the customer experience throughout all parts of their journey. As the only airline to offer this premium pet travel solution, it represents a significant improvement for the millions of people who want to travel with their four-legged family members.”
Some of the innovative features of the CarePod include stronger insulated walls to protect against temperature fluctuations, multi-layered winders and doors with angled blinds to minimize pet stress, an automatically filling spill-proof water bowl and a powerful GPS system linked to Delta’s Cargo Control Center. The control center is staffed 24/7 with experts who digitally manage every step of the pet’s journey, who are specially trained to send out ground staff to check on pets if needed. For the peace of mind of pet owners, key travel updates of their pet’s journey are available on deltacargo.com. Additionally, CarePod carriers are constructed with non-toxic human grade materials and are UV antibacterial treated for a healthy pet journey.
The CarePod is IATA compliant and can accommodate cats and dogs permitted in a 300 series crate or smaller. Pets can be booked between three and thirteen days on deltacargo.com or by casing Delta Cargo Customer Service at 1-800-352-2746. Also commenting on today’s announcement, CarePod’s Founder and CEO, Jenny Pan added,
“We’re thrilled that pet owners can now vacation and fly their pets with Delta’s best-in-class CarePod solution, having the peace of mind that their pets are protected in smart pet travel carriers, that are also digitally supervised by the Delta Cargo Control Center throughout the entire journey. With the Delta Partnership, we aim to raise the benchmark for pet air travel to allow families and pets to stay connected and travel safely together.”
Delta has a team of specialists and a staff veterinarian who are constantly reviewing processes and making improvements to ensure the safety and health of the airline’s pet customers. From specially trained ground handlers to temperature controlled holding areas and vehicles, Delta is committed to the safe and comfortable transport of pets. Additionally, the carrier offers overnight kenneling services in numerous locations.
Source: Delta Air Lines