A pet terminal building is set to open in May at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangdong province, offering full-chain air travel services for pets and marking a major step toward creating a more animal-friendly airport environment in China.

Covering more than 2,000 square meters, the new terminal will provide services including animal quarantine, ticket booking, pet consignment, check-in and boarding hotels. It aims to offer a one-stop, convenient travel experience for passengers flying with their pets, said Du Jie, deputy manager of the airport's safety and quality department.

Du said the pet terminal is the first dedicated facility of its kind in the country and reflects the refinement and warmth of Guangzhou's urban governance.

The terminal has already begun internal trial operations.

With living and traveling with pets becoming a growing trend among modern consumers, demand is increasing for pet-friendly services.

Airport data shows that passengers who are pet owners account for up to 25 percent of total travelers, far exceeding the national average of 14 percent.

Ma Yingying, who oversees the terminal's operations, said that an online reservation and full-process service system is now available for passengers traveling with pets. Through a WeChat mini-program, users will be able to book services such as check-in, quarantine processing, cage purchases and airport pickup, tailored to the pet's type and destination.

Ma said the terminal is designed to ease the complex procedures of pet transport, reducing the preparation time from one week to just two days.

In addition to standard services, the terminal will offer a VIP lounge for passengers and their pets, complete with amenities such as lint rollers, massage chairs, hand-ground coffee and drinks. For pets, the terminal will feature cozy sofas, cat scratching boards and fresh food supply stations.

First-time pet flyers will also receive special attention, including pet-calming essential oils and access to temperature- and humidity-controlled oxygen cabins.

Once pets arrive at the airport, they can enjoy dry cleaning, grooming and relaxing treatments to relieve travel fatigue, Ma said.

"This terminal greatly facilitates the travel needs of dog lovers like me," said Yin Shujun, a doctoral student from the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the South China University of Technology. "I plan to bring my dog to experience the pet terminal's services when I fly to distant destinations in the future."

To meet the boarding needs of long-distance travelers, the first phase of the pet terminal includes six themed sunny cat rooms, four independent dog rooms and seven intelligent pet warehouses. The pet hotel can simultaneously accommodate 17 to 30 pets.

During their stay, pets will receive fresh food twice daily, enjoy two hours of outdoor activities and have access to professional grooming, 24-hour purified air, surveillance, real-time air quality monitoring and video chats with their owners.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn