Pet airline launches flights from Scottsdale
Pet-Friendly Airline RetrievAIR Launches Flights From Scottsdale Airport
If you have ever stood in a Sky Harbor terminal watching someone try to squeeze a trembling Goldendoodle into an undersized carrier, you already understand the problem RetrievAIR is solving.
The pet-first airline officially begins service out of Scottsdale Airport this weekend, giving Valley dog owners a stress-free way to fly with their four-legged family members sitting right next to them in the cabin. No cargo holds. No anxiety-inducing crate stuffing. Just you and your pup in first-class-style legroom.
Co-founder and CEO Benton Miller built the company around a frustration familiar to most big-dog owners. He has two retrievers, both over 60 pounds, and commercial airlines made traveling with them nearly impossible without a private jet budget. RetrievAIR operates 30-seat aircraft out of private terminals, which means check-in feels more like a lounge visit than a cattle call through security.
The company gained national attention and nearly $800,000 in funding after landing a deal with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian on Shark Tank. Scottsdale is one of several new cities added to the network in early 2026, joining Atlanta, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Washington, D.C. Existing routes already serve Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, and Fort Lauderdale.
The demand is clearly there. RetrievAIR's first Scottsdale flight on February 15 is already sold out, driven heavily by West Coast snowbirds who winter in the Valley and want their dogs along for the ride.
Tickets start at $499 one-way for one adult and one dog, with flex fares running higher. That is significantly cheaper than competitors like Bark Air, where flights can top $8,000.
For a city that loves its dog parks, patio dining, and pet-friendly patios, Scottsdale Airport just became the most tail-wagging terminal in Arizona.
Sources: AZ Family | KJZZ | Denver Post | Aerospace Global News | PetHelpful