DOT Temporarily Halts Enforcement of Wheelchair Passenger Rule
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has temporarily paused enforcement of four provisions in a rule aimed at protecting disabled air passengers who use wheelchairs. The rule, issued in late 2024, had faced criticism from the airline industry, including American Airlines, leading to a lawsuit and subsequent delays in enforcement.
The rule, designed to strengthen protections under the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, had been met with resistance. In February 2025, the airline trade group A4A filed a lawsuit against the DOT, arguing that some provisions exceeded the department's statutory authority and violated the law.
In response, the DOT delayed enforcement of the rule twice in 2025 to review its contents and ensure consistency with the law. This review process will culminate in a new notice of proposed rulemaking in August 2026, addressing the four paused provisions. The pause allows the DOT to engage in a new rulemaking process to potentially modify these provisions.
The paused provisions include a rebuttable presumption of airline liability for delayed or damaged wheelchairs, and a requirement for airlines to reimburse wheelchair users for fare differences if their wheelchair cannot fit in the cabin or cargo compartment of Delta or Southwest Airlines. The DOT's review and potential modification of these provisions aim to balance the needs of disabled passengers with the operational requirements of airlines.
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