Multiflight at Leeds Bradford and London Oxford airport are the two latest organisations to report gaining approval to handle the import of pets under the UK's Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).

PETS approval from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) brings business opportunities for both private charter operators and FBOs.

James Dillon-Godfray, head of marketing and development, Oxford Aviation Services Ltd, says: "The first fully approved carriers are Netjets and Air Med. The airport now anticipates a significant number of flights for passengers destined for London and Thames Valley but there will also be a focus on those en-route to elsewhere in the UK for initial pet clearance at the airport."

He adds: "After instigating several other operational enhancements, such as increased opening times and higher fire and rescue capabilities for larger aircraft up to Cat 6 RFFS this additional advantage gives Oxford another edge over alternatives within the south east of the UK."

Multiflight has also become approved as one of the UK's entry points for pets under the scheme that allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets from certain countries to enter the UK without the need for quarantine as long as they meet the rules.

"We feel this is an additional service that will be warmly welcomed by pet owners wanting to travel with their pets through Leeds Bradford," says Multiflight handling manager Heather Cawthorne. "We are always looking at ways to improve and expand the service we provide to clients and to always meet their needs and expectations - pet travel approval is an important part of this ongoing process."

Multiflight Pet Travel offers a dedicated pet handling team trained to process the necessary paperwork and to meet and greet pets and their owners or handlers.

Cawthorne says: "The team will carry out pre-disembarkation checks and check the pet's passport, travel credentials and its microchip."

The team at Oxford will also carry out the formalities. "Once the paperwork has been cleared and stamped as required, the pet is free to disembark," says Dillon-Godfray.

But he warns that all applications to enter a pet into the UK under the regulations of the PETS scheme must, without exception, be received by email by the oxfordjet pet handling team at least 24-hours prior to flight departure to the UK.

"Flights with pets onboard can also be cleared through Oxford for onwards travel elsewhere into the UK. Following the announcement of this new capability, several aircraft operators, including helicopter charter companies, have already filed for route approvals to Oxford with the Animal Health Office."

Dillon-Godfray adds: "It has taken some 18 months of dialogue with Defra and the acquisition of equipment, training and the creation of an approved animal reception centre on site in order to get to where we are today."

Both Oxford and Multiflight point out that there are a limited number of operators approved for UK pet imports with the bigger operators tending to take the lead in filing for route approvals. Multiflight, which offers services including aircraft sales and purchase, fixed wing and helicopter charter, trial flying lessons, commercial pilot courses, private aircraft hangarage, service and repair, says it expects growing PETS-related business in 2010.

PETS-approved airports also include Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol and Biggin Hill.