Delta will now require some additional documentation if you want to bring emotional support animals onboard their flights. The airline is tightening its rules around service and emotional support animals due to “serious safety risks,” according to the airline.
Starting March 1st, the company said that passengers flying with a trained service animal will now have to submit a veterinary health form and/or immunization records 48 hours prior to departure time. The current requirement is a letter signed by a doctor or licensed mental health professional. Passengers flying from the new date with a psychiatric or emotional support animal will need to submit an emotional support/psychiatric service animal require form, in addition to the confirmation of animal training form 48 hours prior to departure.
Delta has said that it has seen 84 percent increase in reported animal incidents since 2016, which includes urination and defecation. Passengers have attempted to lay with comfort turkeys, snakes, spiders, and gliding possums. A passenger was even bitten in the face last year by a 70-pound emotional support dog on a Delta flight.
“The rise in serious incidents involving animals in flight leads us to believe that the lack of regulation in both health and training screening for these animals is creating unsafe conditions across U.S. air travel,” said John Laughter, Delta’s SVP of corporate safety, security, and compliance.
