New DOT Rule Enhances Air Travel for Passengers with Disabilities
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced a groundbreaking rule to enhance the air travel experience for passengers with disabilities, particularly those who use wheelchairs. Announced on December 16, 2024, by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, this final rule sets new stringent standards for airlines to accommodate disabled passengers more effectively.
Secretary Buttigieg emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring fair treatment for passengers with disabilities, stating, “We’ve taken unprecedented actions to hold airlines accountable when they do not provide fair treatment to passengers with disabilities.” The new regulations aim to establish a higher standard of air travel, where the safety and dignity of passengers using wheelchairs are prioritized.
Under the new rule, airlines are mandated to provide “safe and dignified” assistance to disabled passengers. “Safe” assistance is defined as help that does not expose the passenger to an increased risk of injury. Meanwhile, “dignified” assistance refers to aid that respects the passenger’s independence, autonomy, and privacy.
A significant aspect of the rule is the requirement for annual training for all airline employees and contractors who assist passengers with mobility disabilities or handle their mobility devices, such as wheelchairs and scooters. This training ensures that staff are well-equipped to offer appropriate and sensitive assistance and must be completed by June 17, 2026.
Moreover, the rule stipulates that airlines must provide prompt assistance to disabled passengers during boarding, deplaning, and while making flight connections. This includes aiding their navigation through the airport terminal. Airlines are also required to ensure that a passenger’s personal wheelchair is made available as close to the aircraft door as possible upon request.
In a significant move to safeguard passengers’ equipment, the DOT rule mandates that airlines return all checked wheelchairs and other assistive devices in the same condition they were received. If there is any delay in delivering wheelchairs or scooters, airlines must reimburse passengers for any transportation costs to or from the airport.
For delayed mobility equipment, airlines are required to deliver a passenger’s wheelchair or scooter to their destination within 24 hours for domestic flights and 30 hours for longer international flights. Furthermore, the new regulations also give passengers the right to disembark and rebook on the next available flight, either with the same carrier or a partner airline, at no additional cost if their wheelchairs or scooters are not loaded as scheduled.
This rule marks a significant advancement in the rights and protections for passengers with disabilities, ensuring a more accessible and equitable travel experience. It reflects a broader initiative by the DOT to enhance accountability and service standards in the airline industry, particularly concerning the needs of disabled passengers.
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