Wednesday, July 9, 2025

For travelers with disabilities, this delay represents a significant setback. The rule, which strengthens the existing Air Carrier Access Act, ensures that air carriers provide safe and timely assistance, while also requiring better training for airline staff. It also mandates that airlines properly compensate passengers if their mobility devices are damaged, delayed, or lost in transit. These protections are vital to travelers who often face additional hurdles while navigating airports and flights.

The Wheelchair Rule was designed to address several critical issues that affect travelers with disabilities. According to the DOT, approximately 5.5 million Americans use wheelchairs, and one in every 100 wheelchairs or scooters on domestic flights is damaged, delayed, or lost. This can result in significant life disruptions, including a loss of mobility independence, physical injury, and lost opportunities for travel and employment.

Among the critical provisions of the rule are:

These changes were especially important for people who have previously avoided air travel due to concerns about their mobility devices being damaged or delayed. With the new rule, these concerns were meant to be alleviated, allowing more people with disabilities to fly with confidence.

The Trump administration’s refusal to enforce the rule is causing significant concerns. While the rule was meant to go into effect earlier this year, the continued delays—first in February and now in June—have left travelers uncertain about their rights. The pause in enforcement means that the existing, less comprehensive regulations are still in place, leaving travelers with fewer protections and less accountability from airlines.

Travelers with disabilities face ongoing challenges when flying, from long wait times for assistance to the risk of their wheelchairs or scooters being damaged. This delay in enforcing the Wheelchair Rule may discourage some passengers from traveling, particularly those who depend on their mobility devices for daily living. The uncertainty surrounding enforcement further complicates matters, making it difficult for travelers to know what protections are available to them when they book their flights.

The delay in enforcing the Wheelchair Rule has sparked frustration among disability rights advocates. Many argue that the delay is part of a broader pattern of rolling back critical protections for people with disabilities. The administration’s reluctance to uphold these rules, despite their widespread support from disability groups, has raised questions about the commitment to creating an inclusive travel experience.

For travelers, this uncertainty is more than just an inconvenience—it represents a potential barrier to full participation in the travel experience. People with disabilities are entitled to the same freedoms and opportunities to travel as anyone else. The Wheelchair Rule was intended to level the playing field, providing consistent, high-quality service and accountability. Without enforcement, this progress may be hindered.

If you are a traveler with disabilities, here are some tips for navigating air travel during this period of uncertainty: