Groundwork
Section 710 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (“AIR-21”; P.L. 106-81) requires U.S. airlines that perform scheduled passenger transportation to file reports with the Department concerning incidents involving the loss, injury or death of animals during air transportation. This requirement was implemented through the issuance of 14 CFR 234.13 (70 FR 7392) as supplemented by a Reporting Directive published at 70 FR 9217.
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July 2026 Airline Pet Travel Report
This month we have one death to report. On May 16, 2026, a French Bulldog named Guapo passed away while traveling as cargo on Alaska Airlines...
Airline Pet Policies Compared: In-Cabin and Cargo Options (2026)
How the major U.S. airlines compare on pet travel: which carriers allow pets in the cabin, which still offer hold or cargo transport, what drives the real differences between policies, and a booking checklist to avoid surprises.
CDC announced final rule to its dog and cat importation regulation
On May 13, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its final ruling associated with the importation of dogs into the United States to provide clarity and safeguards that address the public health risk of dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV). This final rule addresses the importation of cats as part of overall changes to the regulations affecting both dogs and cats, but the final rule does not require that imported cats be accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination and does not substantively change how cats are imported into the United States.
2025 Airline Pet Travel Summary
In 2025, U.S. airlines reported 8 pet-related air travel incidents — down 33% from the 12 recorded the prior year. The year's incidents spanned four carriers: Alaska Airlines led with 3 incidents, including 2 deaths, followed by American Airlines with 3 incidents including the year's only reported pet loss. Delta and United Airlines each recorded 1 incident. Deaths fell sharply from 8 in 2024 to 3 in 2025, though the year closed on a somber note with the December death of Meli, a three-year-old Golden Retriever, on an Alaska Airlines flight in Seattle.
June 2026 Airline Pet Travel Report
Happy to report there were no pet incidents this month! Not a single loss, injury, or death of an animal during air transportation was reported...
SVAN: Flying With a Trained Service Animal in the Cabin
SVAN is the Special Service Request code airlines use when a passenger travels with a trained service animal in the cabin. Here is what the code means, who qualifies under DOT rules, and the step-by-step process: forms, timing, airport relief areas, and on-board requirements.