I researched this online last night. One way to try and do it is to get the cat or dog ready for export like when you would hand carry or check the animal. Then through the airlines you book space on a 'space available' basis--most likely through their cargo division, the ones that handle live animals (UA, AA, Continental, Delta all do). Then you take the animal through final export procedures at the airport through the quarantine office and once that is done, hand the animal over to the airlines.
The tricky part is most airlines only tell you about a week in advance when space is available, and the quarantine office may ask for more advanced notice than that (technically it's 40 days).
There was also mention of additional paperwork requirements over the regular ones for animal export, to include a 'certificate of acclimation' showing that the animal has been allowed to be accustomed to its shipping container and, for shipping to the US, a special form for customs declaration (but the only form I found was for 'US Forces' use, so it's for military personnel who fall under the US-Japan SOFA treaty). But I would expect that the air cargo division of the airline would know what customs declarations you need to get the animal into the US, if they are shipping there.
Here is the cache of information I was able to get from online sources. It includes information for finding a pet shipper, including known ones operating out of Japan. Nankai I found independently, the rest I found through, Independent Pet and Animal Transportation Association International, which also gave me info. on commercial airlines you can ship through (that is what most of the pet shippers are going to do anyway, book space for your pet with these airlines). UA had, from what I read in online discussion, a good reputation for shipping live animals, but it is not part of the IPATA site.
My information:
http://www.ipata.com/members-directory.php
http://www.facebook.com/petshippingexperts#!/petshippingexperts
Airlines listed by IPATA:
http://www.ipata.com/suppliers#airlines
Airlines
American Airlines Cargo
Ft. Worth , Texas (TX)
UNITED STATESOffice Phone :+1 800-227-4622Fax :+1 800-225-3229
liveanimals.cargo@aa.com http://www.aacargo.com
American Airlines Cargo
American Airlines is the largest airline in the world providing daily service to more than 250 cities in 40 countries. Our employees are trained to provide safe and professional handling at all times of animal transport worldwide. With over fifty years of shipping experience, we transport thousands of animals,representing a wide variety of species, each year.
British Airways World Cargo
Jackson Heights , New York (NY)
UNITED STATESOffice Phone :+1 888 578 4806Toll Free :+1 888 578 4806Pet Passport Desk: :+1-888 578-4806
bawc.petsna@ba.com http://www.baworldcargo.com
British Airways
British Airways World Cargo has many years of experience in transporting pets. Transporting a pet can be a worrying experience. With British Airways you have the reassurance of knowing that you are dealing with experienced professionals. When your pet flies with us, it will be safe and in caring hands. Please visit our website for more information.
Continental Airlines
Houston , Texas (TX)
UNITED STATESOffice Phone :+1 281-553-5050/Live AnimalFax :+1 713-324-7744Toll Free :+1 800-575-3335/Live Animal
petsafe@coair.com http://www.cocargo.com
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline with more than 2,700 daily departures to 132 domestic and 137 international destinations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Continental is a member of the Star Alliance and has hubs in Houston, New York, Cleveland and Guam. For more information visit http://www.continental.com or http://www.CoCargo.com
Delta Air Lines
Atlanta , Georgia (GA)
UNITED STATESToll Free :+1 888-SENDPET (736-3738)
cyndi.r.harstvedt@delta.com http://www.deltacargo.com
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any other airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 287 destinations in 58 countries. Our Pet First program ensures the safe handling and travel of your pet that you would expect from one the world\\\'s most trusted airlines. Please visit our website for more details.
Lufthansa Cargo
Frankfurt/Main , GERMANYOffice Phone :+49 69 696 46058
FRA.AVI.Serviceteam@dlh.de http://www.lh-cargo.com
Lufthansa Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo flies your pets safely to some 300 destinations in more than 100 countries. In Frankfurt, your pets can rest before and after their journey in special quiet areas in Lufthansa Cargo\'s Animal Lounge on 4.000 sqm. Visual and sound separation prevents unnecessary stress. Animals are not transported to the aircraft until just before departure. Up until that time, our trained animal keepers provide individual care and feeding. Explore the Frankfurt Animal Lounge: http://lufthansa-cargo.info/animallounge/en/
Qatar Airways Cargo
Doha , QATAROffice Phone :+974 4455-6111Fax :+974 4462-2786
qrcargoenquiries@qatarairways.com.qa http://www.qrcargo.com
Qatar Airways Cargo
Doha – based Qatar Airways Cargo provides services to 100 destinations using the cargo space available on the Qatar Airways passenger aircraft and freighters. Customers are offered a global reach through our network, covering destinations in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, North East Asia, South East Asia and Australia. Qatar Airways Cargo has made substantial investment in its Doha HUB, with dedicated staff and facilities to ensure all transships are processed in an efficient, seamless manner. For further information, visit our website www.qatarairwayscargo.com
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Crawley , England (UK)
UNITED KINGDOMOffice Phone :+44 0845 0701701USA Contact Centre :+1 800 828 6822
virgin.shipping@fly.virgin.com http://www.virgin-atlantic.com
Plus United Airlines, which I found separately online
http://www.unitedcargo.com/services/SpecAnimals.jsp
http://www.unitedcargo.com/utilities/contactus.jsp
Pet shippers listed by IPATA (except Nankai, which I found on the web separately).
http://www.ipata.com/search-on-line-for-a-pet-shipper
Company Name Location
Mitsui Soko Air Cargo Inc. (formerly JTB Cargo) Tokyo, Japan
Office Phone: +81 3-5695-8340
Fax: +81 3-5695-8399
pet@mitsui-soko-ac.co.jp
http://www.jtbcargo.co.jp
http://www.mitsui-soko-ac.co.jp/english/pet.html
Airports Served: NRT; KIX and other airports in Japan
Services Provided In-House: KC
Services that can be Arranged: BRC, EXC, GR, GTO, KN, LD
Types Of Animals Shipped: BR, DC, OTH
Porsch International Taoyuan County, Taiwan
Office Phone: +886 3 222 8178
Fax: +886 3 311 2801
info@porschintl.com
http://www.porschintl.com
Airports Served: CAN, HKG, KHH, NRT, SZX, TPE
Services Provided In-House: BRC, GR, KC, LD
Services that can be Arranged: EXC, GTO, KN
Types Of Animals Shipped: BR, DC, FS
TOMY International, Inc. Yokahama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Office Phone: +81 45 562-5173
Fax: +81 45 562-5176
tomy@tomyintl.jp
http://www.tomyintl.jp
Airports Served: NRT; Osaka (KIX) and Nagoya (NGO) airports.
Services that can be Arranged: BD, KN, LD, PU/D
Types Of Animals Shipped: DC
WorldCare Pet Transport (TYO) Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan
http://www.worldcarepet.com/contact_us.htm
Japan
phone (81)45 572 3143
fax (81)45 307 1511
cell (81)90-3336-7289
e-mail k.kino@ktd.biglobe.ne.jp
http://www.nankai-express.co.jp/en/services/specialcargo.html
For more information, please contact
| Osaka | ［Customer Service Group］ | Phone:81-6-6632-6532 | FAX:81-6-6632-6535 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone:81-6-6643-5284 | FAX:81-6-6632-6535 | ||
| Tokyo | ［Customer Service Group］ | Phone:81-3-5148-8651 | FAX:81-3-5148-8671 |
