Delta tightens rules for service & support animals

Delta Air Lines said it is tightening its rules for transporting service and support animals in an effort to reduce misbehaviour by dogs and other creatures that air carriers are required by law to allow on board.

Service dogs are specially trained to aid people with disabilities. Delta carries nearly 250,000 service and support animals a year. From March 2018 onward, Delta would require documentation about such animals including its health, in some instances, a promise of good conduct. The new rules make Delta’s policy among the most demanding among major carriers.

The number of service and support animals, which federal regulations say must fly at no cost and uncaged, with some exceptions, has surged 150 per cent on Delta planes since 2015, says a report. But the surge has brought more instances of conflict among passengers, some of whom have complained about allergies and other disturbances.