BARK to exit air travel business: what we know so far

American omnichannel dog brand BARK has reached a preliminary agreement to sell BARK Air’s customer list and license the brand, marking a strategic shift away from its dog air travel business.

BARK Air contributed $3.5 million (€3.1M) to the company’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue in the second quarter (Q2) of fiscal year (FY) 2027, ended 30 September 2026. This represented approximately 4% of BARK’s total quarterly revenue of $87.6 million (€78.5M).

The transaction is expected to take effect on 1 January 2027, subject to the completion of definitive agreements.

Why BARK is exiting the business

BARK’s CEO and Co-Founder Matt Meeker said the decision was not driven by a lack of demand.

The company says that BARK Air recorded average seat utilization of around 90%, while 99% of passengers gave the service five-star reviews.

“Taking into consideration the broader macro environment, BARK Air no longer aligns with where we see our long-range strategy heading and was not generating the bottom-line contribution needed to justify continued investment,” Meeker told investors.

In January 2025, the venture generated $2 million (€1.8M) in quarterly revenue. By the first quarter of FY2027, revenue had increased 37% year over year to $3.2 million. At the time, Meeker said demand remained strong, with well over 90% of seats for the following quarter already sold.

Where it all started

BARK launched its air travel venture in May 2024, partnering with a jet charter company to offer flights designed around dogs and their owners. The initial routes connected the New York area with Los Angeles and London.

The service subsequently expanded to destinations including Paris, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. In May 2025, marking its first anniversary, BARK said it had transported more than 1,000 dogs across 142 flights and nearly 400,000 miles.

The company also introduced private charters, offering customers flexibility for longer journeys and connections to its scheduled routes.

Redirecting investment

The proposed transaction would allow BARK to redirect capital towards its commerce business, partnership pipeline, supply chain improvements and new enrichment products.

The New York-based company posted net revenue of $87.6 million (€78.5M) between July and September, down 18.1% year over year, although the figure exceeded the high end of its guidance range.

The decline primarily reflected a planned reduction in marketing spending and the resulting smaller DTC subscriber base. DTC revenue fell 24.7% to $61.8 million (€55.4M), accounting for 70.6% of total sales.

This was partly offset by growth in commerce, which includes retail and marketplace sales. Revenue from the segment increased 3.6% year over year to $25.7 million (€23M), representing 29.4% of quarterly sales.

Guidance

For fiscal Q3, BARK expects net revenue of $88 million to $92 million (€78.8M–€82.4M) and adjusted EBITDA of $1 million to $3 million (€0.9M–€2.7M).

The company maintained its FY2027 guidance, expecting net revenue of $325 million to $340 million (€291.1M–€304.5M) and adjusted EBITDA of $7 million to $10 million (€6.3M–€9M).

Meeker clarified that the full-year outlook considers the potential loss of one quarter of BARK Air revenue if the proposed transaction proceeds. He said management remained confident in the guidance range and believed the company was trending toward its higher end, even without that revenue.