The number of wheelchairs and assistive devices damaged by airlines has soared in recent years.
Airlines are notorious for muck up wheelchairs and step disabled passenger . A 2023 reputation from the Department of Transportation showed thatdisability - related complaintsagainst airlines soar 200 % since 2019 . In an consultation with Thrillist in January , US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigiegsaid that passenger protection were going to be a top precedency for the agency in 2024 . Now , after extensive organizing fromdisability right counsel , the DOT has pop the question a new insurance policy that will control airline business more accountable when they fail to provide sufficient service to passengers with disabilities .
The rule would make it easier for DOT to " agree airline business accountable when they damage or detain the return of a wheelchair by spend a penny it an robotlike violation of the Air Carrier Access Act ( ACAA ) to bungle wheelchair , " according to a assertion let go Thursday by the agency .
The first element of the propose pattern would address airlines ' failure to properly accommodate and respect passenger in wheelchair in following ways:1 . Any mishandled ( defined as : lost , delayed , discredited , or stolen ) assistive devices such as wheelchairs would be an automatic violation of the ACAA . The airline would then be liable to be penalize by the DOT.2 . airway would be required to right away apprise the affected passenger of their right to :
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3 . passenger would be provided with two option for damage wheelchairs :
OR
4 . The airline would be responsible for for providing a lender wheelchair to the rider while the passenger is waiting for the completion of fix or substitution for their wheelchair . The airline will be need to confab with the passenger on the loaner to ensure it meet the need of the passenger as much as possible .
The other two element of the new rule are " secure , self-respectful , and prompt aid , " and " improved standards on planing machine . " These admit provender on meliorate airline employee training , the tax return of delayed wheelchair to passenger within 24 hours by " whatever entail possible , " and notification of when wheelchairs have been load and unloaded from cargo . you could read the complete details of the suggest rules at theTransportation.gov .
" When somebody can not locomote because somebody else has decide that it ’s too hard to accommodate them , the world shrink , " Buttigieg said during an event announcing the changes on Thursday . " Importantly it shrink for that would be traveler and it shrink for everybody else , everybody who would benefit from having that traveler with them . "
Sen. Tammy Duckworth , who was also present at the upshot , added : " This aim normal is so critically important . As someone who does travel with a wheelchair , I ca n’t tell you how many times I ’ve seen my own assistive devices and others ' separate . multitude do n’t actualise that this is a part of my dead body . If this is broken , you ’ve broken my legs . "
" People who go with mobility machine deserve better , " Duckworth continue . " Under this rule , once it ’s finalized , they will get better . "
