Disability: It is the complex condition of the human being constituted by biopsychosocial factors, which evidences a decrease or suppression, temporary or permanent, of any of its sensory, motor or intellectual capacities that can manifest itself in absences, anomalies, defects, losses or difficulties to perceive, move without support, see or hear, communicate with others, or to integrate into educational or work activities, in the family or with the community, which limit the exercise of rights, social participation and the enjoyment of a good quality of life, or prevent the active participation of persons in family and social life activities, without necessarily implying incapacity or inability to integrate socially.

It is important to highlight that Providence 092-22 creates a right for persons with disabilities who require to travel by air to be accompanied and remain with their respective Service or Emotional Support Animals duly trained for such purposes, in all spaces and environments where those unfold.

This right also entails an obligation for the airline operator to transport them. This right, however, is conditioned to the fulfillment by the disabled passenger of the following requirements:

(a) Communicate with the airline operator at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the trip to coordinate the special service required for their condition and accompaniment;

(b) Present to the airline operator the pertinent documentation: ID card issued by the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (CONAPDIS) or medical and/or psychological report, certifying their disability condition, signed by a health professional duly licensed and registered in the branch of medicine that treats such disability. These reports must be valid for at least six (6) months from the date of issue.

(c) Submit to the air operator a certificate that the service or emotional support animal has been trained to perform its function.

(d) Submit to the air operator the documentation required in the Venezuelan Aeronautical Regulation 113 (RAV113) and the provisions of the National Institute of Integral Agricultural Health (INSAI):

(i) Health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian.

(ii) Vaccination certificate.

(iii) Rabies vaccination certificate.

(iv) Certificate of Animal Health Inspection issued by INSAI.

(v) Import or export permit (if applicable).

The passenger must also comply with the requirements established by the country of origin for the transport of such animals (e.g. chip placement or rabies neutralizing antibodies test).

This right is also conditioned that the Service or Emotional Support Animal to be transported does not manifest characteristics such as bad smell, noises, aggressive behavior or others that represent a danger or discomfort for the crew and passengers. In these cases, air operators shall be exempted from the obligation to transport them.

Finally, Ruling 092-22 establishes a mandate for airport operators to provide the necessary accessibility, orientation and information to persons with disabilities and reduced mobility who are accompanied by Service Animals and/or Emotional Support Animals; as well as to offer adequate internal transportation to them within the airport facilities.

The Official Gazette containing Ruling 092-22 can be downloaded at the end of this publication

Emotional Support Pet: Any domestic animal that is proven by documentation to be necessary for the emotional well-being of the passenger.

Service Pet: A dog, regardless of breed type, individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an Individual diagnosed with a disability, whether a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Pet in Cabin: Cabin transport is enabled for small dogs and cats, whose total weight (pet + container or kennel) does not exceed 6 kgs. These pets must travel in their kennel or transport container at all times. Remember, these pets travel together with their owner.

Pet in Bodega: The transport in hold is enabled for dogs and cats, whose total weight (pet + container or kennel) does not exceed 30 kgs.

Special Service Codes: