DOT Announces New Rules to Protect Passengers with Disabilities

Geoff Cook

DOT Announces New Rules to Protect Passengers with Disabilities

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced new rules to protect the rights of air travelers with disabilities. These rules address several key areas, including handling wheelchairs and assistive devices, employee training, and timely delivery of mobility equipment. Airlines must provide safe and dignified assistance, ensuring that passengers are not at increased risk of injury and that their independence and privacy are respected. Mandatory annual training, including hands-on components, will be implemented for staff assisting passengers with mobility needs. Airlines will be held accountable for returning wheelchairs and assistive devices in the same condition they were received, with a presumption of mishandling if damage occurs. Specific timeframes are set for the return of delayed wheelchairs (24 hours for domestic/short international, 30 hours for long international), and rules are in place for reimbursements and alternative accommodations. Future regulations will also require improved standards for onboard wheelchairs on larger aircraft by 2031. These new rules, which will be phased between January 2025 and June 2026, represent a significant step towards ensuring accessible and dignified air travel for passengers with disabilities, building on other recent DOT efforts to strengthen passenger rights. Read more here