American Airlines will no longer allow emotional support animals on flights

American Airlines has said it will no longer allow emotional support animals on its flights, in accordance with a new Department of Transportation regulation. According to the DOT regulation, which goes into effect on 11 January, airlines "are not required to recognise emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets”. The airline’s policy will also begin on 11 January, with American stating that from that point it will no longer "authorise new travel for animals" that do not meet the DOT's definition of a service animal. According to the DOT, a service animal is a dog, specifically, that is “trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability”. With the new policy, American became the latest airline to implement the change, after Alaska Airlines also announced it will no longer accept emotional support animals on flights. According to American, existing bookings involving emotional support animals will be honoured through 1 February. For animals that previously travelled as emotional support animals, their owners will still be able to travel with them as carry-on pets or cargo pets, according to the airline, as long as they meet the requirements.<br/>