Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft and Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs

What it does

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is extending its previously announced enforcement discretion for four provisions of the final rule on "Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" (Wheelchair Rule I) related to airline liability for mishandled wheelchairs, refresher training frequency, pre-departure notifications, and fare difference reimbursements from December 31, 2026 to April 30, 2027. To maintain regulatory consistency, the Department is also expanding this enforcement discretion to include the 12-month hands-on training mandate for flight attendants regarding on-board wheelchair (OBW) assistance and lavatory accessibility in the final rule titled "Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft" (Accessible Lavatory Rule). These provisions will be formally addressed in an upcoming rulemaking titled "Airline Obligations to Accommodate Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" (Wheelchair Rule II). This extension is necessary to allow sufficient time for the Department to review and analyze public comments, and to make final determinations regarding the content of the final rule. This exercise of enforcement discretion is intended to remove the burden of complying with the requirements under review by DOT and does not prejudge the outcome of the new rulemaking. This notice does not affect the enforcement of requirements in the Accessible Lavatory Rule other than the one identified.

The Transportation Department's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What changed in the regulation

1 part of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

14 CFR 382

Compared with

The Transportation Department has published 10 final rules in 2026 so far, compared with 9 in all of 2025.

Counted by the Tribune from Federal Register records since Jan. 1, 2025.

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 2105-AE89 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

As of August 4, 2026, enforcement of 14CFR 382.125(e), 382.130(a), 382.132, and the at least once every 12-month training requirements found in Sec. Sec. 382.141(a)(6) and 14 CFR 382.63(h)(1) are delayed until April 30, 2027.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket DOT-OST-2021-0137 on Regulations.gov
• Title 14 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register