Alaska Airways is the 1st airline to ban emotional aid animals

Alaska Airways is the very first U.S. provider to ban psychological help animals on its flights subsequent a Section of Transportation ruling that airways will only be demanded to transportation services dogs.

© Elaine Thompson/AP

Starting Jan. 11, the airline will make it possible for only service pet dogs that are “specially trained” and will refuse transport to emotional guidance animals.

The DOT rule improve came early this thirty day period subsequent the agency’s selection to revise its Air Provider Accessibility legislation for the reason that travellers have for years been requesting airlines accept their “service” pigs, rabbits and peacocks. Until eventually now, the department experienced not defined what constituted a assistance animal, and all emotional assist animals have been federally necessary to be permitted on planes.

In 2017, the trade team Airways for America believed that the range of psychological assist animals touring on professional flights increased to 751,000, a sharp rise from the 481,000 found the yr in advance of.

Airlines will no more time be essential to transportation emotional assist animals

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“Following latest adjustments to U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) procedures, Alaska Airways will no lengthier accept psychological assist animals on its flights,” the airline explained in a news launch. “Alaska will only transport company puppies, which are specially trained to carry out jobs for the benefit of a experienced person with a disability.”

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On its web site, the airline states that sizing of all services dogs authorized onboard “must not exceed the footprint or individual area of the guest’s seat or foot place all through the entire flight.” The assistance pet dog need to also be leashed at all times, is expected to “behave thoroughly,” are not able to occupy a seat or tray table and might not be less than 4 months outdated.

The airline known as the shift a required phase. “This regulatory alter is welcome news, as it will assistance us minimize disturbances onboard, though continuing to accommodate our attendees touring with competent service animals,” Ray Prentice, director of client advocacy at Alaska Airways, claimed in the news launch.

“The last rule declared these days addresses considerations raised by people today with disabilities, airways, flight attendants, airports, other aviation transportation stakeholders and other customers of the general public, concerning support animals on aircraft,” DOT officers reported in a statement announcing the rule change on Dec. 2.

Alaska Airlines flights will accept travellers who booked vacation just before Jan. 11 to carry an emotional assistance animal other than a puppy only up right until Mar. 1. The DOT originally took up the ban on company animals in January 2019.

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