Virgin Atlantic Cargo is to partner the City of London’s Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) to trial a pre-check service for pets landing in the UK on the airline’s flights.

The service aims to comfort pet owners by eliminating stress caused by the uncertainty of not knowing if their pets will meet the entry requirements of the UK Pet Travel Scheme. The trial, commencing on 1 April 2015, will also enable owners to correct any errors or obtain additional information before their pets travel.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo was the first airline to be approved to fly pets direct from the USA to the UK under the UK Pet Travel Scheme in 2003 and offers a unique service to its customers which manages the safe and comfortable movements of their pets from booking, collection, and clearance through to being reunited with their owners. Virgin Atlantic has safely carried over 20,000 pets since the launch of its dedicated pet travel service.

John Lloyd, director of Cargo at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to participate in this trial because carrying pets is an important part of our business. Giving customers the opportunity to have all of their pets’ paperwork checked prior to travel is a very welcome initiative. It will not only give pet owners peace of mind, it will also speed up the process of them being reunited with their pets on the day of arrival.”