The Department of Transportation just announced new rules going into effect starting in 2026.
The Department of Transportation is officially making moves toensure plane become more accessiblefor all .
On Wednesday , the departmentannouncedthat in the next few years it will require airline business to make lavatoriesmore approachable . This means that , while up until now only widebody planes were require to have approachable bathrooms , in the future even individual - aisle plane will need to be equipped with them . Partially , this has to do with the fact that low planes are now fly long routes , with multiple airway using them for coast - to - coast flight , which can be even six or more hour long .
" travel can be nerve-racking enough without vex about being able to access a restroom ; yet today , millions of wheelchair user are forced to opt between dehydrating themselves before room a plane or avoiding air travel altogether , " Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement . " We are gallant to denote this convention that will make airplane bathrooms great and more accessible , ensuring travelers in wheelchair are afford the same access and lordliness as the rest of the traveling public . "
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The accessibility - oriented variety on aeroplane will start in 2026 . New single - aisle plane will be required to be fit out with grab bars , approachable call button and door locks , approachable faucets and controls , minimal obstruction to the passage of awheelchair , toe clearance , and an uncommitted visual barrier for privacy . In the future , single - gangway planing machine set up pop out in 2033 or birth starting in 2035 will be required to have fully - accessible bathrooms .
Older planes that are already take flight before the commencement of the new program will not be required to update their bathrooms . However , according to the DOT , if such planes do undergo internal renovations involving fully replacing lavatory after the rule is put into effect , they will be required to update the lavatories to comply with the new accessibility standards .
