Department of Transportation Notice of Proposed Rule Making - Airline Travel
Today the Biden Administration announced a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to expand the rights and protections of airline passengers who use wheelchairs.
The proposed rule would:
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Mandate annual, hands-on training for airline staff and contractors who physically assist passengers and who handle passengers’ wheelchairs.
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Allow passengers to choose the company that will repair or replace their wheelchair if it’s mishandled with the airline covering the costs.
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Clarify that airlines must provide prompt, safe, and dignified assistance to all passengers with disabilities.
If airlines fall short of any of these standards or mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair, the proposal – if finalized – would make it easier for Department of Transportation (DOT) to hold airlines accountable for failing passengers who use a wheelchair.
The NPRM is live on DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection website (https://bit.ly/42YldiS).