Delta and United join Southwest to become latest airlines to ban humanoid robots from the sky
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Key takeaways
- The Trump administration announced on July 28 2026 that the Federal Communications Commission will bar imports of new Chinese humanoid and quadruped robots, as well as related power inverters, citing national‑security risks to the U.S.
- AI build‑out and targeting firms such as Unitree that hold a large share of the global market.
- In the aviation sector, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines joined Southwest in prohibiting human‑like robotic devices from aircraft cabins and checked baggage, a policy rolled out in late June and early July to address safety concerns over heavy‑duty batteries.
- Meanwhile, Chinese automaker BYD confirmed it will unveil its first humanoid robot in August at a “Di Space” venue, planning an open platform and eventual deployment of robot sales advisors in its stores.
- On the education front, a rural New York school district paused its plan to install a Realbotix humanoid robot in classrooms after state officials, teachers and community members raised privacy and safety objections.
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Major American carriers are expanding restrictions on high-tech travel companions, with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines becoming the latest companies to prohibit humanoid and animal-like robots from aircraft cabins and checked baggage.
The decisions follow a similar move by Southwest Airlines in May, which introduced its ban after a passenger boarded a flight with a robotic companion earlier this year. Airlines have cited general safety and operational concerns as carriers act to set boundaries around the emerging technology. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are the latest companies to prohibit humanoid and animal-like robots from aircraft cabins and checked baggage. The move follows Southwest’s ban on similar devices earlier this year
“Delta does not permit human- or animal-like robotic devices to be transported in the aircraft cabin or as checked baggage,” the airline said in a statement to The Independent. “We continually review emerging technologies and update our policies to maintain the highest safety standards.”
Delta noted that the prohibition applied specifically to devices powered by lithium batteries exceeding standard Federal Aviation Administration watt-hour limits. The carrier also clarified that these devices did not qualify for medical or accessibility exemptions. United instituted its restriction on July 23 as a proactive measure, noting that the policy was not prompted by a specific incident on its flights.
“We believe this change will help further ensure the safety of our customers and crews,” an airline spokesperson told The Independent, adding that lifelike robots often relied on heavy-duty batteries that were already prohibited on flights. The carrier will still allow other automated devices and select toys on board, as long as they adhere to existing baggage limits and battery safety protocols.
Delta implemented a similar policy on June 18, banning any devices built to imitate humans or animals in size, movement, appearance or behavior from both passenger areas and cargo compartments.
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