Delta Airlines will no longer allow emotional support animals on flights over eight hours as of Dec. 18, the airline announced Monday.
The second-largest airline in the U.S. also banned service and support animals under four months old on all flights beginning Feb. 1 of next year.
"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, Delta's senior vice president for corporate safety, security and compliance.
In its statement, Delta cited an 84 percent increase in reported incidents involving service and support animals in 2016-2017, "including urination/defecation, biting, and even a widely reported attack by a 50-pound dog."
That attack, which happened in June 2017, resulted in facial wounds that required 28 stitches. The man attacked, Marlin Jackson, could not escape because he was in a window seat.
Customers with tickets purchased before Dec. 18 will be allowed to travel with their emotional support animals, but only if they had requested to do so beforehand.
Delta currently carries 700 service animals daily, or 250,000 every year.
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