Airline Cancels Flight, Costs Millions, to Prevent Service Dog from Boarding

A service dog named Teddy is at the heart of a legal dispute between his family and TAP Air Portugal. The family was prevented from boarding a flight to Portugal with Teddy, despite a court order. TAP canceled the flight, citing safety concerns and the dog's lack of their required certification. The family contends that this requirement was not mentioned when they booked the tickets and that Teddy has an internationally recognized certificate. The incident caused a significant financial loss for TAP, estimated at over three million reais. A spokesperson for the family stated, "It's absurd. Teddy is a service dog, vital to Alice's well-being. There's no logic in separating them." The incident has sparked a debate in Portugal about the rights of service animals and the responsibilities of public companies. The legal battle continues, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their service animals when traveling.