Virgin Australia will be the first airline in the country to allow pets to fly alongside passengers on domestic flights.

All pets will fly within their approved carriers in the cabins rather than being stored beneath the plane with other cargo.

Jane Hrdlicka, Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive, said the company is excited about the change.

“We are excited at the prospect of taking off with Australia’s first-ever pets in cabin flights,” she said.

According to the RSPCA, almost 70 percent of Australians own a pet. The announcement will benefit a significant proportion of the country.

“Overwhelmingly, our guests tell us they want to travel with their pets, and we are now on a journey to make that a reality,” Hrdlicka said.

Photo: Service dogs in front of an airplane at an airport by Jeswin Thomas available HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This photo has not been modified.