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 their equipment when flying.
The DOT confirmed it will not enforce four major provisions of the “Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travellers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs” rule — commonly known as the Wheelchair Rule — until 31 December 2026, while it undertakes a new rulemaking process to review and potentially rewrite those measures.
‘Temporary pause’ seen as rollback
The department described the move as an exercise of “enforcement discretion”, arguing it will “remove the burden” on airlines while officials revisit aspects of the policy. But campaigners say it amounts to a suspension of rights, effectively leaving travellers without critical safeguards that were due to take effect months ago.
“This is not merely a technical delay — it’s a political decision that leaves thousands of disabled passengers exposed to the very harms this rule was designed to prevent,” said a spokesperson for the National Disability Rights Network.
The suspended provisions include:
- Airline liability for damaged or delayed wheelchairs;
- Refresher training requirements for airline staff who handle mobility devices;
- Pre-departure notifications informing passengers of their rights to file a claim; and
- Fare difference reimbursements for travellers who are forced onto alternative flights because their wheelchair cannot be accommodated.
The DOT’s deferral comes after airlines, including United, Delta, American, Southwest and JetBlue, sued to block the rule earlier this year, claiming the requirements were too onerous and legally flawed.
‘A dangerous precedent’
The Wheelchair Rule, finalised in December 2024, was widely celebrated by the disability community as a landmark step in ensuring accountability from airlines. It was meant to address persistent issues — from damaged wheelchairs to poor assistance and inaccessible procedures — that make air travel disproportionately difficult and humiliating for passengers with disabilities.
Under the new delay, enforcement of the most consequential parts of the rule will not begin for at least another year and a half, pending the outcome of what the DOT is now calling “Wheelchair Rule II.”
“This sends a dangerous message that the convenience of airlines outweighs the dignity and safety of passengers with disabilities,” said Mia Ives-Rublee, director of the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress. “The department should be defending the rule — not rewriting it under industry pressure.”
Airlines welcome breathing space
Airlines and trade groups have praised the department’s move, saying they need more time to adjust to new operational demands and legal uncertainty. The industry has argued that strict liability for wheelchair damage could expose carriers to “unreasonable financial risk.”
But advocates note that wheelchair mishandling remains one of the most common and distressing accessibility failures in U.S. aviation. According to DOT data, more than 11,000 mobility devices were reported damaged or destroyed by airlines in 2023.
In October 2024, American Airlines was fined a record $50 million for repeated violations involving damaged wheelchairs and inadequate assistance — a penalty disability groups hailed as overdue accountability.
Longer delays, deeper mistrust
The DOT has already postponed enforcement of the Wheelchair Rule twice this year — first until March 2025, then August 2025 — citing the need for legal review and policy consistency with the Biden administration’s agenda.
Now, with enforcement pushed into late 2026, activists say confidence in the government’s commitment to accessibility is waning.
“The Department is signalling to airlines that compliance is optional,” said disability lawyer and advocate Brandon Rotbart. “Every month of delay means another traveller stranded, another wheelchair broken, another complaint ignored.”
What’s next?
The department says it plans to issue a new notice of proposed rulemaking by August 2026, after which a public consultation will follow. Officials insist that the pause “does not prejudge” the eventual outcome, but many advocates fear the process could lead to weakened regulations shaped by airline lobbying.
For passengers who rely on wheelchairs, the reality remains unchanged: years after promising reform, U.S. air travel is still fraught with obstacles — and the fight for safe, equitable treatment in the skies is far from over.
Sources: Federal Register, Reuters, AP News, Runway Girl Network.
Recommended reading: Airline Damaged Your Wheelchair? Here’s What You Can Do!
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