United Airlines (NYSE:UAL) is hiring dogs to comfort passengers as part of a holiday program called United Paws.
“Comfort dogs” are the new trend in United Airlines terminals ahead of flights. United Paws is designed to cheer up passengers after they go through security and before they fly.
The program is in its second annual installment and it will employ over 200 service dogs in seven airports across the nation. United Airlines believes the dogs could help relax those who suffer from flight anxiety.
“During the holidays we tend to have a lot of people who are not used to traveling as much and not as experienced in traveling through the airports,” Mark Krolick, United’s managing director of marketing said. “We are looking for ways to take the stress out of travel for them.”
United Paws includes 230 professionally trained comfort dogs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark and Washington-Dulles airports through Dec. 23.
UAL stock is down 0.4% Tuesday.
