Big Win for Accessible Air Travel

In December of 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced new protections for those air traveling with a disability. As shared in the formal announcement, this rule requires airlines to meet the DOT’s rigorous standards accommodating passengers with disabilities, especially for passengers who use wheelchairs. 

According to their website, the DOT states: “The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) has issued a final rule to strengthen its regulation implementing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and to address the serious problems that individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs and scooters face when traveling by air that impact their safety and dignity, including mishandled wheelchairs and scooters and improper transfers to and from aircraft seats, aisle chairs, and personal wheelchairs. This final rule also carries out certain rulemaking provisions required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. This rule is effective on January 16, 2025.”  

Members and advocates of the United Spinal Association helped with the finalization of this rule. In a blog posted to their website, United Spinal’s Public Policy Fellow Kent Keyers shares, “This is the beginning of a new era in flying for wheelchair users, but now more than ever, we will need passenger feedback on how the new standards are working or not working. It will still take some time for the new training standards to cover the full workforce.  And we still have much work to do to support a stable, reliable workforce so that we get the help we need, when we need it, flying what we hope are friendlier skies.” 

The rule itself takes action in critical areas such as prompt enplaning, deplaning, and connecting assistance, enhanced training for airline personnel and contractors, passenger notifications, and more.   

Travelers can learn more about their protections when they fly at FlightRights.gov. Consumers may file an airline complaint with the Department here.