Business Insider

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

American Airlines is banning many puppies and kittens from flying as emotional support animals — but some miniature horses are still fine

Air Carrier Access Act, Civil Rights, Emotional Support Animals (ESA), Media, Medical Assistance Animals, Miniature Horse, News, Pets, Service Dogs (SD), Travel

November 22, 2025

Service animals have been limited to just dogs, cats and in special circumstances miniature horses. Emotional support animals have been limited to cats and dogs. Only one emotional support animal per passenger will be allowed. Animals under the age of four months have been banned from travelling as service and support animals

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American Airlines, Benjamin Zhang, Business Insider, cats, company policies, dogs, kittens, Miniature horses, puppies, veterinary health form