Delta Air Lines Says No More Support Kittens, Puppies on Flights

  Delta Air Lines Inc. is barring emotional-support and service animals that are less than four months old, while banning all support animals from flights longer than eight hours.

The changes will take effect for tickets issued on or after Dec. 18, the carrier said Monday. Passengers who bought tickets before then and who already requested to travel with an emotional support animal will be allowed a grace period to fly as originally planned until a full ban starts Feb. 1. The changes don’t affect pets that customers pay to take into the cabin in enclosed carriers.

Delta is tightening rules for emotional-support animals after recording an 84 percent increase in incidents during the two year period ending in 2017. One attack involved a 70-pound dog, the carrier said. The airline also had incidents in which animals bit, urinated and defecated on planes.

“These updates support Delta’s commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs, such as veterans with disabilities, to travel with trained service and support animals,” said John Laughter, the company’s senior vice president for corporate safety, security and compliance.