Over the past few years, ESAs have been on a sharp rise especially in the US where several airlines have witnessed a growing number of passengers apply to carry their pets on-board.Īn issue that has divided public opinion – as well as the Airport Industry Review team – it was recently put in the hands of the US Department of Transportation, which proposed in February that only certified assistance animals be allowed on-board.How we see the world shapes who we choose to be - and sharing compelling experiences can frame the way we treat each other, for the better. Known as ‘emotional support animals’ (ESAs), these vary from dogs and cats to the more unusual iguanas and peacocks. However, the same cannot be said of pets who are not professionally trained to provide assistance, but are instead brought on a plane to provide comfort to their owners.
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Their role in this process is so important that the industry tends to allow them on board free of charge, although this may vary depending on the size of the animal. Currently accepted on the vast majority of world flights, these hounds are highly skilled and trained to support owners through the airport and on-board aircraft. Although opinions on the matter are divided, the reports remain symptomatic of the fact that security operators cannot entirely rely on animal help to carry out their tasks.Īssistance for visually impaired travellers and other disabilitiesĪssistance dogs provide vital help to travellers with disabilities (whether visible or invisible) and medical conditions. However, multiple studies have previously shown that their detecting capabilities are not infallible - with some even mentioning a percentage error of over 50%. The episode eventually paved the way for more dogs of a variety of breeds patrolling airports and security lanes in the years that followed.Ĭanine teams – like the Beagle Brigade in the US - are trained not only to identify explosives but also drugs, cash, wildlife, animal parts such as ivory and rhino horns, contraband items and even foreign and potentially harmful plants, like in the case of the Beagle Brigade in the US. Kennedy Airport, ultimately avertingdisaster. Their employment in security lanes has been on a sharp rise since 1974 when an NYPD-owned German Shepherd managed to sniff out a bomb that had been stowed inside an aircraft at New York’s John F. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) annually trains thousands of dogs for a range of jobs, including explosives detection or prevention of smuggling.
Through sustainable practices and the use of renewable fuel sources, we take a closer look at the airports setting an example for other aviation hubs to follow.ĭogs are crucial members of an airports’ security ecosystem. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, run by Airports Council International (ACI), is helping more than 200 airports to manage their emissions, with the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality. Many airports across the world have therefore adopted greener elements into their designs and operation strategies, as well as subscribed to eco-friendly initiatives. Building capacity for additional aircraft can also create a backlash amongst environmentalists – see, for example, the frenzy over a potential third runway at the UK’s Heathrow Airport. As airports expand, so too does their carbon footprint, with more energy required to power new terminals, ground transport vehicles and the creation of infrastructure. The aviation sector is facing increasing pressure to clean up its act when it comes to climate change, but gas-guzzling airplanes aren’t the only culprits.
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