Delta Airlines is revoking a year-old ban on bringing emotional support animals on flights longer than eight hours. However, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Delta will continue to ban pit bull dogs as on-board service or support animals, even though new federal guidelines forbid service animal limitations based on the types of dog breeds. The airline issued a statement saying that it is banning pit bulls out of concern for the safety of its passengers. Delta says it received reports of 40 aggressive animal behavior issues on its flights in 2018, although it did not say how many were related to pit bulls.
Evolving Policy on Support Animals
Passengers who require service animals trained to work or perform tasks for a disabled person, such as a guide dog, can bring dogs, cats, and miniature horses for free on U.S. commercial flights. Rules may vary depending on the animal’s size and weight. Emotional and psychiatric support animals fall into a different category. Several airlines require passengers to check in earlier or provide medical documentation establishing the need for a support animal before they board the flight.
Delta said it revoked the ban on support animals because it found a solution to protect the health and safety of those onboard without having to uphold the ban. However, the airline has said it is still struggling with allowing pit bulls. Under Department of Transportation guidelines, a limitation based exclusively on the breed of the service animal should not be permitted.
Delta backed up its stance with statistics showing that while pit bulls only account for less than 5 percent of the overall dog population, they account for 37.5 percent of vicious dog attacks. Many animal rights groups say these numbers are skewed because they are based on unreliable sources for identifying dogs involved in dog bite incidents.
Liability Issues
There is no question that airlines and commercial carriers can be held liable for the injuries, damages, and losses caused to passengers. This includes animal attacks on a flight. Airlines have a responsibility to ensure that service animals brought on a flight don’t pose a hazard to other passengers.
Imagine that a service animal has hurt you while you were traveling. In that case, you may be able to file a personal injury claim seeking compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, hospitalization, rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to help victims seek and obtain maximum compensation for their losses in such cases.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2019-09-25/delta-relaxes-rules-on-emotional-support-animals-on-long-flights
