The World is Accessible — accessible travel blog and community for disabled travelers

Category: Air Travel

News and advocacy for accessible air travel. From policy changes to passenger rights, we cover the issues shaping the flying experience for travelers with disabilities.

Southern Airways Responds After Denying Disabled ‘Wicked’ Star Boarding

Image of Marissa Bode.

/ News & Opinion / Southern Airways Responds After Denying Disabled ‘Wicked’ Star Boarding Actor Marissa Bode, known for her role as Nessarose in the recent Wicked film duology, says Southern Airways has taken steps to address an incident in which she was prevented from boarding a flight due to her disability. In a Sunday […]

The End of Handing Over Your Wheelchair at the Plane Door Is in Sight

A mock-up image of a man in a powered wheelchair, sitting inside the Airspace U Space.

/ News & Opinion / The End of Handing Over Your Wheelchair at the Plane Door Is in Sight Boarding a flight as a wheelchair user has long meant handing over your independence at the door. Airbus is working to make that a thing of the past. For the longest time — decades, in fact […]

Airlines Are Breaking Wheelchairs—And No One Is Stopping Them

Airport ground crew wearing orange and yellow high-visibility safety vests unload multiple folded wheelchairs from a baggage conveyor belt alongside a silver commercial aircraft. The plane displays "75th Anniversary" lettering on its fuselage. The scene takes place on a sunny tarmac with blue skies and trees visible in the background.

/ Airlines Are Breaking Wheelchairs—And No One is Stopping Them Every year, U.S. airlines mishandle more than 11,000 wheelchairs and scooters. Behind that number are real people losing their mobility, their livelihoods, and their freedom — and the rules meant to protect them keep getting delayed. Table of Contents Can you imagine taking a flight, […]

Changi Airport’s New Calm Room Is a Beautiful Step Toward Truly Inclusive Travel

A young lady sits on a large padded step, in a soft padded room called 'The Den' in Changi Airport's Calm Room. The lighting is soft and the environment is tranquil. Perfect for neurodiverse travelers who wish to take a break from the chaos of an international airport.

Changi Airport’s New Calm Room Is a Beautiful Step Toward Truly Inclusive Travel Singapore’s Changi Airport has unveiled its first sensory-friendly Calm Room, and I can’t help but feel a genuine sense of joy seeing something like this take shape. As the father of an autistic child, I know just how valuable these kinds of […]

CAA Acts on Airline Wheelchair Damage in the UK

A man sits in a wheelchair and is pushed by an airport staff member. Meanwhile UK's Civil Aviation Authority propose new measures for avoiding wheelchair and mobility aid damages whilst flying.

CAA Launches UK Consultation on Airlines’ Mishandling of Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids For anyone who travels with a mobility aid, handing over your wheelchair at the airport can feel like surrendering a part of yourself. Too many of us have watched our independence disappear down a baggage belt, not knowing if our chair will arrive […]

Advocates condemn U.S. delay on new wheelchair protections for air travelers

A flight attendant wearing a protective mask stands in the aisle of a passenger aircraft, surrounded by seated travellers, illustrating the challenges wheelchair users face when flying as protections are delayed.

Advocates condemn U.S. delay on new wheelchair protections for air travelers Disability rights advocates have criticised a decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to delay enforcement of key wheelchair-travel protections for another 15 months, calling it a setback for passengers who rely on mobility devices and have long faced discrimination and damage to […]

Wheelchair Users Face New Challenges as Airlines Fight Accessibility Rule

A flight attendant walks down the aisle of a full airplane cabin, seen from behind, with passengers seated on both sides.

Wheelchair Users Face New Challenges as Airlines Fight Accessibility Rule UPDATE: As of October 2025, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to delay enforcement of key wheelchair-travel protections for another 15 months.   Editor’s note: This article was inspired by a recent report in The New York Times (June 20, 2025) on airlines’ legal challenges to […]

U.S. Airlines Challenge New Disability Travel Rule

The outline of an aircraft coming into land with a sunset glow behind it.

U.S. Airlines Challenge New Disability Travel Rule A group of leading U.S. airlines is pushing back against a recently implemented federal regulation designed to enhance the travel experience for passengers with disabilities. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and their industry association, Airlines for America (A4A), have filed a petition with […]

Delight in the Sky: Emirates’ Journey Toward Autism Certification

A close-up of a bright blue bag sitting on the floor in an airport lounge. Attached to the bag is a green lanyard with yellow sunflower patterns, commonly associated with hidden disabilities. In the blurred background, travelers are seated on benches, creating a busy yet calm airport atmosphere.

Delight in the Sky: Emirates’ Journey Toward Autism Certification Emirates is setting a new benchmark for accessible travel as it works to become the first Autism Certified Airline, partnering with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This move aims to create a more inclusive flying experience for individuals with autism and […]