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DOT Rule Enhances Air Travel Protections for Passengers with Disabilities, Fines Airlines for Violations

Dec 16, 2024, 08:00 PM

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has finalized a new rule aimed at enhancing protections for air travelers with disabilities. This rule mandates airlines to provide 'safe, dignified, and prompt' assistance to passengers with disabilities, particularly those using wheelchairs. Key provisions include annual hands-on training for airline staff, a rebuttable presumption of airline fault in cases of damaged mobility devices, and the requirement for airlines to promptly return delayed mobility devices within 24 hours for domestic flights and 30 hours for international flights. Additionally, passengers can now choose their preferred vendor for repairs or replacements of damaged mobility devices, and airlines must offer loaner accommodations while repairs are underway. The rule also addresses the need for airlines to publish cargo hold dimensions, provide ground transportation reimbursement, and improve onboard wheelchairs. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted the rule's significance, noting that it addresses many pain points for disabled travelers, including the high rate of damage to mobility devices, which was reported at 1.4% in 2023. The DOT also recently imposed a $50 million fine on American Airlines for repeat violations related to wheelchair damages. Teresa Nguyen, a passenger whose wheelchair was damaged, emphasized the personal impact of such incidents, likening it to an injury.