Acceptance of Service Dogs for People with Disabilities at Airports around the World

Abstract

Purpose: Airports are an essential part of aviation infrastructure and are meant to be used by a wide variety of people, including people with physical disabilities. With an increasing number of people traveling with their service dogs, airports must be adapted to accommodate these animals. However, there is limited research regarding the acceptance of service dogs at airports. Method: A survey was administered to airports between July 2021 and April 2022 regarding the acceptance of service dogs at their facilities. Results: We found that 71.2% of the airports that were surveyed accepted service dogs. Furthermore, 40.9% of such airports were equipped with toilets for service dogs. Most airports with toilets for service dogs were located in North America (92.2%). The acceptance rate of service dogs at airports around the world varies by region. While most airports provide information about their service dog policy on their websites, several do not. Conclusion: Approximately 70% of airports around the world accept service dogs. More information about the acceptance of service dogs should be displayed on airports’ websites.