US proposes new rules to make flying easier for travelers in wheelchairs

The Biden administration announced Thursday that it is proposing new rules for how airlines must treat passengers in wheelchairs, an effort aimed at improving air travel for people with disabilities.

Under the proposed rule, damaging or delaying the return of a wheelchair would be an automatic violation of an existing federal law that prohibits airlines from discriminating against people with disabilities. The Transportation Department said the change would make it easier for the agency to penalize airlines for mishandling wheelchairs.

The proposed regulations would also require more robust training for employees who physically assist disabled passengers or handle their wheelchairs.

“There are millions of Americans with disabilities who avoid air travel due to inadequate aviation practices and inadequate government regulation, but now we want to change that,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “This new rule would change the way airlines operate and ensure that travelers who use wheelchairs can travel safely and with dignity.”

For people in wheelchairs, flying can be difficult and uncomfortable, and airline mistakes can make for an even more painful experience. According to the Transportation Department, more than 11,000 wheelchairs and scooters were mishandled by airlines last year.

The proposed regulations complement previous steps by the Biden administration intended to improve the flying experience for disabled travelers. In 2022, the Department of Transportation published a Bill of Rights for Airline Passengers with Disabilities. Last year, the agency finalized new regulations to require more commercial aircraft to have accessible bathrooms.