A4A

Emotional-support animals are becoming a big problem on planes, and airlines want them to go away

Air Carrier Access Act, Civil Rights, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), Medical Assistance Animals, Travel

November 22, 2025

According to Airlines For America — a trade group that represents major US airlines including American, United, JetBlue, Southwest, and Alaska — the number of emotional-support animals, or ESAs, traveling aboard commercial flights jumped 74%, from 481,000 in 2016 to 751,000 in 2017.

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A4A, Airlines for America, Alaska, American, American Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Flight Attendants, Business Insider, cats, dogs, ferrets, jetblue, Miniature horses, National Disability Rights Network, psychiatric service dogs, reptiles, rodents, snakes, Southwest, spiders, United

New airline rules haven’t stopped an increase in pets, including emotional-support animals

Air Carrier Access Act, Civil Rights, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), Medical Assistance Animals, Service Dogs (SD)

November 22, 2025

Last year, the number of pets carried by U.S. airlines (usually for a fee in the cabin or cargo hold) increased 11% to 784,000, according to Airlines for America, the industry’s lobbying organization. The number of service animals increased 24% to 281,000, according to A4A. And the number of emotional-support animals leapt 56% in that one-year period, to 751,000.

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A4A, Airlines for America, American Airlines, barking, biting, Delta Air Lines, Gil West, pets, United Airlines, urination