DOGS do not have to be grounded when their high-flying owners go on trips to Europe.

Private air travel company PropStar Aviation from Kemble has started carrying pets as part of the package of services it offers to its members.

This means that fully inoculated animals can be flown back to the UK via Biggin Hill Airfield before going on to locations throughout the country.

Managing director Ed Hewertson said that PropStar was one of just a handful of carriers certified by Defra to fly in pets from Europe.

"This service stemmed from a conversation we had with one of our members who dearly wanted to travel to and from their home in La Rochelle with her Westie," he said.

"When we looked into it we found that while it is relatively easy to fly pets out of the UK, there are very few carriers allowed to bring animals back in.

"PropStar aims to offer its members an exemplary service in every way and we were delighted to gain the necessary certification so that our member's wish could come true."

PropStar, which is based at Kemble Airfield, offers quick, convenient and stress-free travel to hundreds of small airfields in Britain, Ireland and the near Continent, as well as all the larger airports.

The company is unique in offering access to a fleet of Piper Seneca V aircraft, along with pilots and a dedicated ground crew to take care of all travel arrangements for about the same cost as running a luxury car.

The structure, known as "fractional ownership", was previously only available for business jets.

"PropStar is about time and giving people more of it," said Ed.

"A private aircraft is far and away the most efficient way to travel.

"The beauty of PropStar is that we can offer a personalised service which you don't get if you're having to fit your trip around scheduled flights.

"It's like owning your own aircraft without having to worry about things like maintenance and pilot training.

"And PropStar's planes are always available to its members."

The firm can be contacted on www.flypropstar.com.