The Department of Transportation is bringing out standardized rules for emotional support animals on flights, but won’t allow a blanket ban of specific dog breeds.
It means airlines such as Delta Air Lines will have to reverse its rules banning ‘pit bull type dogs.’
DOT officials said airlines can ban any animal considered unruly or a safety threat but not a wholesale ban on a particular breed.
The DOT will publish guidelines this week and then airlines will have 30 days to comply.
The agency will authorize other restrictions already in place such as no young animals or exotic pets.
The Association of Flight Attendants looks forward to federal guidelines for all airlines to deal with the ‘mess of animals loose in the aircraft cabin.’
There has been a sharp rise in the number of emotional support pets on flights which has been followed by increase in incidents, such as passengers and flight crew being bitten and animals running amok in the cabin.
A number of lawsuits have been filed in the past couple of years over bites or clawing injuries sustained from stressed animals.
"The availability of fraudulent ESA credentials online has enabled people who are not truly in need of animal assistance to abuse the rules. With over a million passengers bringing ESAs on flights last year, airlines and airports saw a sharp increase in incidents such as biting and mauling," said trade group Airlines for America.
