Air travel for passengers with disabilities is set to improve significantly with the introduction of new federal regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). These rules, announced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, aim to ensure safe and dignified travel for individuals who rely on wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
The changes, set to roll out between January 2025 and June 2026, come in response to persistent issues such as mishandled wheelchairs, inadequate staff training, and limited accessibility in airports and on airplanes. DOT data highlights that for every 100 mobility devices transported on domestic flights, at least one is damaged, delayed, or lost—an issue that has led many people with disabilities to avoid flying altogether.
Key Protections for Passengers
The new regulations set clear standards for airlines to improve services and accountability, including:
- Safe and Respectful Assistance: Airlines must provide assistance to passengers with disabilities in a manner that ensures safety, respects their independence and privacy, and avoids heightened risks of injury.
- Comprehensive Staff Training: Airline employees assisting passengers with disabilities or handling mobility devices will undergo mandatory annual training, including hands-on sessions, and will need to demonstrate competency through assessments.
- Prompt Boarding and Deplaning: Passengers with disabilities must receive timely assistance for boarding, moving within the airport terminal, and deplaning after their flight.
- Careful Handling of Mobility Devices: Airlines are required to return checked wheelchairs and other assistive devices in the same condition they were received. If a device is damaged, the airline must assume responsibility under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).
- Timely Transportation of Delayed Devices: If a wheelchair or scooter is delayed, it must be delivered to the passenger’s final destination within 24 hours for domestic or short international flights, and within 30 hours for long international flights.
Long-Term Improvements
Looking ahead, the DOT has mandated that all on-board wheelchairs for planes with over 60 seats meet new accessibility standards by October 2, 2031. These improvements will address long-standing frustrations for passengers who rely on mobility aids during flights.
Broader Efforts to Improve Accessibility
The announcement builds on several initiatives launched under Secretary Buttigieg’s leadership to expand the rights and protections of airline passengers with disabilities. These include the creation of the first-ever Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights in 2022 and rules finalized in 2023 requiring accessible airplane lavatories. Airlines such as United have already begun enhancing their offerings, such as adding search features to ensure wheelchair users are accommodated.
“Every passenger deserves safe, dignified travel when they fly,” said Buttigieg. “With the new protections we’re announcing today, we’re establishing a new standard for air travel, with clear and thorough guidelines for airlines to ensure passengers using wheelchairs can travel safely and with dignity.”
The new regulations reflect the DOT’s commitment to fostering an inclusive transportation system, empowering the roughly 5.5 million Americans who use wheelchairs to travel with confidence.
