On January 22, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
proposed new amendments to the Air Carrier Access Act
(ACAA) regulations. These amendments would further restrict the
type and use of service animals on airplanes.
Among the changes noted below, the new rules would require
passengers to pay the pet fees that airlines charge for bringing
"emotional support" animals on board. The amendments were
proposed in light of: (1) the increasing number of service
animal-related complaints in air travel, (2) the inconsistency
between the ACAA's service animal regulations and the service
animal
regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
(3) passengers' well-publicized attempts to fly with unusual
species of service animals (e.g., peacocks and pigs), (4) the large
number of potentially false claims that pets are service animals,
and (5) the increase in misbehavior of purported service
animals.
