US aims to enhance regulations for airline passengers with wheelchairs

Friday, March 1, 2024

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced its intention to introduce new regulations aimed at bolstering the rights of airline passengers who use wheelchairs. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized that this proposed regulation represents the most substantial expansion of rights for wheelchair users since 2008. It is designed to simplify the process for the USDOT to hold airlines accountable for any damages to wheelchairs or delays in their return.

Buttigieg highlighted the challenges faced by millions of Americans with disabilities, who opt out of air travel due to inadequate practices by airlines and insufficient governmental regulations. He pointed out the absence of economic incentives for airlines to ensure the proper handling of wheelchairs. According to data from 2023, there was an 11.5% increase in the mishandling of wheelchairs and scooters by airlines in the United States, with 11,527 reported cases, at a time when there are 5.5 million Americans using a wheelchair.

The proposed rules would allow passengers the freedom to choose the vendor for repairs or replacements of damaged and mishandled wheelchairs. Additionally, the USDOT is suggesting that airlines should be required to provide loaner wheelchairs and ensure the transport of delayed wheelchairs to the passengers’ final destinations within 24 hours of their arrival. The new regulations would also include mandates for enhanced employee training and require that airlines make personal wheelchairs available as close to the aircraft door as possible for deboarding passengers.

The public will have 60 days to comment on the proposal. Furthermore, the USDOT is contemplating future regulations that would permit passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs during flights.

In a related development, United Airlines, following an investigation, agreed in September to undertake improvements to air travel for passengers using wheelchairs. This agreement with the USDOT included provisions for offering refunds for fare differences if a flight with higher fares is needed to accommodate a specific wheelchair size.

The USDOT is seeking public feedback on whether this practice of offering refunds should be made a mandatory requirement. Additionally, it disclosed that it is currently conducting investigations into several cases of mishandled wheelchairs. This initiative underscores a significant move towards making air travel more accessible and accommodating for passengers with disabilities, reflecting a broader commitment to ensuring their rights and dignity.

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