Coffee, Tea, or Kibble?

An airline devoted to pets and not people sounds like an idea from the heady days of 2006, when several airlines thought they could make it big ferrying business travelers and celebs across the Atlantic or when pet spas and boutiques were cropping up everywhere.

But 2009 is no 2006, and if regular carriers are having big problems filling planes and making money, can a niche product like Pet Airways really fly (pardon the pun)?

"Yes, the economy is always a concern, but our pets are like family to us," Alysa Binder, one of Pet Airways' founders, told ZooToo.com. "You don't leave the baby at home just because the economy is weak. You'll want to take it with you, and to make sure that it is well cared for."

The airline's first flight is scheduled for July 14, from New York to Los Angeles--two of five cities Pet Airways will fly to initially (Washington, Denver and Chicago are the others). One-way fares start at $149, which allows for a cat or dog to ride in the cabin of the plane rather than in cargo and to have a pet attendant keep an eye on them.

One thing Pet Airways doesn't have on board are the pets' owners, who have to find their own transport to the destination.