BARK Air sold seats to dogs first and their people second. Now it is winding down. BARK has a preliminary agreement to sell the BARK Air customer list and license the brand, with the change expected to take effect on January 1, 2027, if the final agreements get signed.
The numbers explain the decision better than any statement. BARK Air brought in $3.5 million in the quarter that ended September 30, roughly 4% of the company’s $87.6 million in revenue. Seats ran about 90% full and 99% of passengers left five-star reviews. CEO Matt Meeker told investors that demand was never the problem. He said the service no longer fit where the company is headed and was not making enough money at the bottom line to justify more investment.
It launched in May 2024 with flights between the New York area, Los Angeles and London, using a chartered jet where dogs flew out of carriers rather than in them. Routes later reached Paris, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. By its first anniversary, BARK said it had flown more than 1,000 dogs across 142 flights and close to 400,000 miles.
What this means for your dog
If a 2027 trip was riding on BARK Air, do not book anything on the assumption that the planes keep flying. Ask the company directly about existing bookings, credits and refunds before you pay for a flight or a hotel. The mainstream airlines still carry dogs in the cabin or as cargo, each with its own size limits, paperwork and fees, and what the airlines actually require is worth reading properly before you pick a route. The announcement was reported by GlobalPETS.