EU Court Rules Pets as Baggage, Shifting Airline Liability for Lost Animals

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that pets can be treated as baggage, limiting airline liability for lost animals during flights, such as the case involving a dog lost from Buenos Aires to Barcelona.

• In a recent ruling, the Court of Justice of the European Union determined that pets are classified as baggage under airline regulations, impacting compensation claims for lost animals.
• The case arose when a dog belonging to a passenger, identified as Felicísima, was lost on a flight from Buenos Aires to Barcelona, prompting a legal claim for damages.
• The decision means that airlines, like Iberia (airline), are not obligated to provide higher compensation for lost pets, as they are now considered standard baggage.