The US government is cracking down on airlines that mishandle passenger wheelchairs. The hope is that a new rule will encourage safer and more responsible wheelchair transportation.
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) data reveals that airlines damage or lose one out of every 100 wheelchairs or scooters following a domestic flight. While this might not sound like an excessive amount, the new law recognizes that any damaged wheelchair can result in a total loss of mobility for affected passengers.
Airline Policies Get a Government Mandated Update
The DOT announced updated protections for passengers with disabilities that travel with airlines in the US. The DOT announced updated protections for passengers with disabilities traveling by air. Under the new rule, airlines operating in the U.S. must:
- Provide specialized training for baggage handlers on the correct handling of wheelchairs.
- Ensure handlers pass an assessment or exam following their training.
- Offer necessary assistance to passengers traveling without their original wheelchairs, both on the plane and within the airport.
Currently, when a wheelchair-bound passenger boards a flight, airlines treat the wheelchair as checked luggage. However, improper handling often results in damage, delays in return, or both.
The new federal rules will work to reduce the number of violations that airlines make when handling wheelchairs. These violations have resulted in damaged wheelchairs and/or delays that significantly impact the passenger experience for individuals with disabilities.
Airlines must also follow a series of protocols in the event an employee reports a damaged or misplaced wheelchair.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg issued a statement to members of the media about the new ruling to airlines Monday:
“We’ve taken unprecedented actions to hold airlines accountable when they do not provide fair treatment to passengers with disabilities…With the new protections we’re announcing today, we’re establishing a new standard for air travel — with clear and thorough guidelines for airlines to ensure that passengers using wheelchairs can travel safely and with dignity.”
American Airlines Takes Brunt of Wheelchair Fines
The new ruling comes off the heels of a historic $50 million fine to American Airlines in 2024. This ruling came after the DOT found American Airlines employees mishandled wheelchairs countless times from 2019 to 2023.
In late 2023, a video went viral of an American Airlines handler dropping a wheelchair down a baggage ramp. A second handler also stood by as the wheelchair crashed at the bottom of the chute.
Rules Effective Early Next Year
The new rule will go into effect for every airline operating in the US on 16 January, 2025.
