Cargo crates for Husky and Malamute relocation

Relocating two large Nordic breeds by air is genuinely one of the more involved crate situations — travel crates have very specific requirements depending on whether a dog is in a car, the cabin, or the cargo hold, and airline regulations vary enough that getting it wrong can mean your dog simply doesn't board. For hold travel, crates must meet IATA Live Animal Regulations, which cover construction, ventilation, door latches, size minimums, and absorbent bedding. To point you to the right crates: what are the approximate weights and measurements of your Husky and Malamute, which airline are you flying with, and are you booking them both on the same flight?

Good — British Airways uses IAG Cargo for hold pets, and they follow IATA guidelines strictly. For your Husky at 27kg, you'll need an IATA-compliant crate where he can stand, turn, and lie down naturally. Measure him: height from floor to top of head standing, length from nose tip to tail base, then add around 10cm to each. For a typical male Husky that usually puts you in a crate around 91–100cm long. Your Malamute at 38kg is going to need something larger — likely 100–107cm range. Before I confirm the recommendation: can your Malamute stand fully upright without hunching? Some big males top 80cm to the head, which changes the crate height needed.

That's exactly what I needed. For both dogs, I'd recommend the Ferplast Atlas 100 Professional — it's a robust, double-door rigid plastic crate that's fully IATA-compliant and accepted by IAG Cargo. The internal dimensions are approximately 100cm long x 67cm wide x 74cm high, which comfortably fits your Husky and will work for your Malamute given his 72cm head height with the crate floor compression taken into account — though I'd suggest measuring him in the actual crate before travel day if possible. You'll need two of them. The Atlas 100 has ventilation on all four sides, bolt-together assembly, metal bolt latches (not clip latches — BA requires these), and a removable floor tray. It's one of the very few plastic crates at this size that consistently clears IAG Cargo check-in without issue. Make sure you line the floor with absorbent material and attach water/food dishes to the door grille — both IATA requirements. Confirm the crate dimensions with IAG Cargo directly once you've bought them, as BA occasionally updates their accepted model list.

They cannot share a crate for hold travel — IATA regulations require adult dogs over 14 weeks to travel in individual containers unless they're a nursing dam with pups. Two separate crates is the only option, which you're already planning for. Because there are two large crates, flag this early with IAG Cargo when you book — there are sometimes limits on the number or total dimensions of live animal shipments per flight, and large crates count against cargo space. Book the dogs' travel at the same time as your own tickets and get written confirmation that both crates are accepted on that specific flight. Also worth noting: British Airways requires a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel and a completed IATA live animal checklist attached to each crate.

Good plan — contacting IAG Cargo early is the right call, especially with two large crates on the same booking. One last thing: assemble the crates a few weeks before travel and let both dogs spend time in them with the doors open. Nordic breeds can be anxious travellers and familiarity with the crate genuinely reduces stress on the day. Safe move to you all.