(CNN) – American Airlines says it will no longer allow emotional support animals starting next week.
The move corresponds to a new Department of Transportation regulation that says airlines are not required to treat emotionally supportive animals as service animals.
The DOT defines a service animal as a dog “trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability”.
American said on January 11, when the new DOT rule goes into effect, “it will no longer authorize new trips for animals that do not meet this definition, such as emotional support animals”.
Emotional support animals are prescribed by mental health professionals to provide comfort and support, but, unlike service animals, they do not need to be trained in specific tasks.
Animals that previously traveled as emotional support animals can travel as pets with hand luggage or cargo, the airline said.
“We are confident that this approach will allow us to better serve our customers, especially those with disabilities who travel with service animals, and better protect our team members at the airport and on the aircraft,” said Jessica Tyler, president of cargo and vice president American airport excellence in a press release.
The concern that passengers were fraudulently passing their pets on as the most vaguely defined and gratuitous category of emotional support animals is part of what prompted airlines to ask DOT for a review of this issue.
The DOT rule was also driven by an increase in complaints of disabled passenger service animals, misbehavior of emotionally supportive animals, a lack of clarity around the definition of “service animal” and interruptions caused by “transport requests” of unusual species of animals on board aircraft, “according to the DOT.
Pigs and peacocks are among the unexpected animals that previously flew as emotional support animals.
American says existing reserves for emotional support animals will only be honored until the end of the month.
As of February 1, American will require passengers traveling with service animals to electronically submit a DOT form prior to a flight describing the dog’s behavior, training and health. The authorization is valid for one year or until the animal’s vaccines expire.
American is not the first airline to update its policies to align with DOT. On December 29, Alaska Airlines announced that it will no longer accept emotional support animals.