WASHINGTON—The "Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" final rule went into effect on June 17. Originally introduced in 2024 by former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pete Buttigieg, the rule states airline rule states airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and their wheelchairs or scooters must now receive annual hands-on training.
Buttigieg said in an announcement that 5.5 million Americans use wheelchairs. DOT data showed that at least one out of every 100 wheelchairs or scooters transported by airlines on domestic flights was damaged, delayed in being returned or lost.
“As part of the required training, airline employees and contractors must be able to successfully demonstrate their knowledge such as through competency assessments or certification exams,” the DOT said in a Dec. 16, 2024, announcement. “All airline employees and contractors who provide physical assistance to persons with mobility disabilities or handle the transport of wheelchairs or scooters must receive training as specified in the final rule by June 17, 2026.
“When an individual’s wheelchair is delayed or damaged by an airline, their mobility, health and freedom can be severely impacted until the wheelchair can be returned or replaced,” the announcement continued.
The final rule included other provisions as well, including air carrier liability, refresher training for air carrier personnel, pre-departure notifications to notify passengers who check wheelchairs of their rights if their equipment is damaged and fare difference reimbursements, which would compensate passengers if they had to book more expensive flights because their originally preferred flights could not accommodate their wheelchairs or other assistive devices.
“For too long, passengers with complex mobility disabilities have been forced to accept that flying means risking their safety and independence,” said Robert Thomas, U.S. Army veteran and national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “When airlines fail to properly assist passengers or mishandle their equipment, it is a failure to uphold their fundamental civil rights. The current system leaves too many violations unaddressed and gives airlines little motivation to proactively prioritize accessibility. Catastrophically disabled veterans who sacrificed their bodies for this country deserve better, and so do the 60 million Americans living with disabilities.”