Delta to ban pit bull service dogs, legality in question

Amid growing scrutiny of animals in airplane cabins, several airlines have unveiled tightened policies aimed at limiting the number of untrained pets or unusual species on flights. The changes, they have said, are driven by safety considerations and intended to ensure that service or emotional-support animals are traveling only with passengers who have disabilities.

Delta went further last week, announcing Wednesday that it would prohibit all “pit bull-type dogs” as service or support animals, in a move it called “the direct result of growing safety concerns following recent incidents in which several employees were bitten.” The airline told the Associated Press Friday that two employees were bitten by a pit bull traveling as an emotional-support animal last week.

But the announcement faced swift backlash from advocates for pit bulls, as well as from some service dog organizations and disability advocates who said they believe the Delta ban runs afoul of federal laws.

The Department of Transportation also cast doubt on the legality of the policy on Friday evening, saying in a statement that “a limitation based exclusively on breed of the service animal is not allowed under the Department’s Air Carrier Access Act regulation.” The agency did not say whether it had communicated with Delta officials about this interpretation of the federal disability law that applies to air travel, but it suggested that passengers turned away from flights would need to file a disability complaint with the department.