Delta Air Lines was Friday fined US$50,000 by the US DoT to settle allegations it discriminated against 3 Muslim passengers who were ordered off their planes. In its consent order, the department said it found Delta "engaged in discriminatory conduct" and violated anti-discrimination laws when it removed the 3 passengers. Delta disagreed that it engaged in discriminatory conduct but "does not dispute that each of these 2 incidents could have been handled differently," the order said. The govt said the fine "establishes a strong deterrent against future similar unlawful practices by Delta and other carriers." Following a July 2016 incident, Delta said it had reviewed and enhanced its procedure to investigate suspicious activity "to make it more collaborative and objective." <br/>
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Delta Air Lines is launching a new option for airline pet travel -- and it's not cheap. In Atlanta and 7 other cities, the carrier now offers the option to transport pets as cargo in a CarePod. A CarePod is a specialised pet travel carrier with GPS tracking, a built-in water bowl, industrial-strength walls, a triple-locking door and "specially angled blinds to help create a calming environment for pets." The launch of the CarePod option follows Delta's decision in 2016 to stop accepting pets as checked baggage, after facing criticism for pet deaths in checked carriers. Dog owners can bring their dog in on a leash instead of providing their own carrier, and can get updates on their pet's journey on their mobile phones. The price for pet travel in a CarePod: US $850 one-way. <br/>