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Disability

Highlights

Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights

The U.S. Department of Transportation worked with members of the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee, which includes voices from the disability community and industry stakeholders, to create the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. This easy-to-use summary will empower travelers to understand their rights and help the travel industry uphold those rights.

Updated DOT Service Animal Forms

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has renewed the Control Number for the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form and Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. Both forms have also been updated through that process.  Click here for more information on traveling by air with a service animal. 

A compilation of rules, guidance, enforcement orders and publications on disability issues in aviation.

Rules

NameDateDocument
14 CFR Part 382, Passengers with Disabilities View Link
Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs  
  • Notification of Enforcement Discretion 4
8/4/2026View Link
  • Notification of Enforcement Discretion 3
9/30/2025View Link
  • Notification of Enforcement Discretion 2
6/10/2025View Link
  • Notification of Enforcement Discretion 1
2/20/2025View Link
  • Final Rule
12/16/2024

View Link

View PDF

  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
3/12/2024

View Link

View PDF

Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft  
  • Final Rule
7/26/2023

View Link

View PDF

  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Part 2
3/18/2022

View Link

View PDF

  • Notice - Reopening of Comment Period and Public Meeting
11/19/2021View Link
  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
12/16/2019View PDF
Service Animals  
  • Final Rule
12/2/2020View Link
  • U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form - Sample
 View PDF
  • U.S. DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form - Sample
 View PDF
  • Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
2/5/2020View Link
  • Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
5/23/2018View Link
Web sites and automated kiosks  
  • Final Rule
10/2013

View PDF

View Word

  • Fact Sheet - Accessible Kiosks and Websites
11/2013

View PDF

View Word

U.S. Airports: captioning, lifts, service animal relief areas, etc.  
  • 49 CFR Part 27: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance (U.S. Airports) Final Rule
07/2015View PDF
Seat-strapping of wheelchairs  
  • Final Rule
10/2013

View PDF

View Word

  • Fact Sheet - Seat Strapping
11/2013

View PDF

View Word

  • Re: Petition to stay the effectiveness of wheelchair seat-strapping provision
06/21/2010View PDF
Reporting of Mishandled Baggage and Wheelchairs  
  • Enforcement Policy 
11/01/2018View PDF
  • Enforcement Notice
10/23/2018View PDF
  • Extension of the compliance date
03/21/2017View PDF
  • Final Rule
10/18/2016View PDF
Rule in effect through May 12, 2009 View PDF
  • 2008 Comprehensive Amendment and Reissuance
 View PDF

Guidance

NameDateDocument
Enforcement Notice - Accommodation by Carriers of Persons with Disabilities Who Are Unable to Wear or Safely Wear Masks While on Commercial Aircraft2/5/2021View PDF
Enforcement Notice - Denying Boarding by Airlines of Individuals Suspected of Having Coronavirus3/2/2020View PDF
Guidance on transport of portable dialysis machines by air travelers with disabilities6/3/2013View PDF
Additional Guidance: Preboarding of Air Travelers With Disabilities05/29/2013View PDF
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Air Travel of People with Disabilities05/13/2009View PDF
Guidance on reporting disability-related complaints12/22/2004View PDF
Reporting of Disability-Related Air Travel Complaints7/8/2003View PDF

Enforcement Orders

NameOrder No.Document
American Airlines, Inc.2025-12-5View PDF
American Airlines, Inc.2024-10-15View PDF
Etihad Airways2022-11-7View PDF

Food Allergy Research and Education, Inc.
v. American Airlines, Inc.

Alicia White v. American Airlines, Inc.

2019-5-12View PDF
Scandinavian Airlines System2018-11-8View PDF
Allegiant Air, LLC2018-4-8View PDF
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.2018-4-7View PDF
Frontier Airlines, Inc.2017-7-8View PDF
American Airlines Crowell2017-1-11View PDF
Societe Air France2016-4-9View PDF
British Airways Plc 2016-4-8View PDF
Lufthansa German Airlines2016-4-7View PDF
United Airlines, Inc.2016-1-3View PDF
Turkish Airlines2014-7-18View PDF
American Airlines, Inc.2013-12-4View PDF
US Airways, Inc.2013-11-4View PDF
Virgin America, Inc.2013-9-7View PDF
Victor Cherenfant et al. v. Spirit Airlines, Inc., and Direct Airline Services, Inc.2013-8-20View PDF
Victor Cherenfant et al. v US Airways, Inc. and Direct Airline Services, Inc.2013-8-19View PDF
Jean Benjamin et al. v JetBlue Airways Corp. and Superior Aircraft Services, Inc.2013-8-18View PDF
Frank Drum v. Southwest Airlines Co. and PrimeFlight Airline Services2013-8-17View PDF
Kyla Thorington et al v. United Airlines, Inc. , and PrimeFlight Airline Services2013-8-16View PDF
Onetha McKnight et al. v. US Airways, Inc., and PrimeFlight Airline Services2013-8-15View PDF
Southwest Airlines Co.2013-5-1View PDF
AeroSvit Airlines2012-11-6View PDF
Dismissal Order2012-9-7View PDF
Virgin America, Inc.2012-5-22View PDF
Frontier Airlines, Inc.2012-4-15View PDF
Allegiant Air, LLC2012-2-10View PDF
Spirit Airlines, Inc.2012-1-20View PDF
Atlantic Southeast Airlines2011-7-4View PDF
Icelandair Group, aka Flugleidir, h.f, d/b/a Icelandair2011-5-13View PDF
Delta Air Lines, Inc.2011-2-10View PDF
Mesaba Aviation, Inc.2011-1-4View PDF
JetBlue Airways Corp.2010-12-17View PDF
AirTran Airways2010-8-14View PDF
Compania Panamena de Aviation, S.A.2010-7-15View PDF
Cayman Airways Limited2010-6-21View PDF
Continental Airlines, Inc.2010-5-9View PDF
Bahamasair Limited Holdings2010-2-27View PDF
TAM Linhas Aereas, S.A.2010-1-8View PDF
Jetstar Airways Pty Limited ABN 33 069 720 2432009-10-17View PDF
Order of Dismissal Complaint of Tim Maddox/Xiomara Osorio2008-12-5View PDF
Primaris Airlines, Inc.2008-9-31View PDF
Compania Mexicana de Aviacion, S.A. de C.V.2008-4-6View PDF
Isair Airlines and Tourism Ltd.2007-12-4View PDF
Eurofly, S.p.A.2007-10-25View PDF
Cayman Airways2007-10-19View PDF
Air New Zealand2007-10-8View PDF
Alia-Royal Jordanian Airlines2007-9-19View PDF
Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, S.A.2007-9-11View PDF
Skyservice Airlines Inc.2006-12-26View PDF
United Airlines2006-10-17View PDF
US Airways, Inc.2006-8-26View PDF
British Airways, PLC2006-8-7View PDF
Complaint of Irvin Rosenfeld v. American Airlines, Inc.2006-7-20View PDF
Aerovias del Continente Americano, S.A.2006-6-18View PDF
Aloha Airlines, Inc.2006-2-15View PDF
Hawaiian Airlines2005-10-26View PDF
Aloha Airlines2005-10-25View PDF
United Air Lines, Inc.2005-10-22View PDF
Petition of JetBlue Airways, Inc. for an Exemption from the Requirements of 14 CFR 382.2 1 (a)(2)2005-6-5View PDF
America West Airlines, Inc.2004-8-19View PDF
Complaint of Irvin Rosenfeld v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.2004-5-25View PDF
ATA Airlines, Inc.2004-4-22View PDF
Complaint of Irvin Rosenfeld v. Delta Air Lines, Inc.2004-3-27View PDF
Northwest Airlines, Inc.2004-3-4View PDF
United Air Lines, Inc.2003-12-6View PDF
Frontier Airlines, Inc.2003-11-5View PDF
Delta Air Lines, Inc.2003-11-4View PDF
AirTran Airways2003-10-11View PDF
Ryan International Airlines, Inc.2003-9-4View PDF
Southwest Airlines, Co.2003-8-30View PDF
America West Airlines2003-8-29View PDF
JetBIue Airways2003-8-28View PDF
Liberty Travel2003-7-19View PDF
Trans World Airlines, Inc.2003-7-12View PDF
Northwest Airlines, Inc.2003-6-3View PDF
Mohave County Airport Authority, Inc, Allegiant Air, and Sun Country Airlines2003-5-28View PDF
US Airways, Inc.2003-3-19View PDF
Complaint of Kyle Heck v. Southwest Airlines, Inc.2003-3-5View PDF
American Airlines, Inc., Complaint of Louise Caplan v. American Airlines2003-3-1View PDF
Aloha Island Air, Inc., dba Island air, Inc.2002-12-4View PDF
Alaska Airlines, Inc.2002-12-3View PDF
Petition for Rulemaking of the Tall Club of Silicon Valley2002-7-36View PDF
Louise M. Caplan v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.2002-7-21View PDF
Linda G. Cook and Emma P. Duggan v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.2002-3-15View PDF
Northwest Airlines, Inc.2002-3-10View PDF
Louise M. Caplan v. Continental Airlines, Inc.2002-1-5View PDF

Other Documents

NameDateDocument
Reporting of Disability-Related Complaint Data for 202512/4/2025View Link
Agreement Between U.S. Department of Transportation and United Airlines to Improve the Air Travel Experience for Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs09/28/2023

View PDF

View Word

Agreement by and between Copa Airlines and US Department of Transportation - Website Accessibility03/26/2018View PDF
Agreement by and between All Nippon Airways and US Department of Transportation - Website Accessibility10/23/2017View PDF
Agreement by and between Spirit Airlines and US Department of Transportation - Accessible Airport Kiosk10/23/2017View PDF
Agreement by and between Alaska Airlines/Virgin America and US Department of Transportation - Accessible Airport Kiosk10/23/2017View PDF
Agreement by and between Southwest Airlines and US Department of Transportation - Accessible Airport Kiosk11/1/2016View PDF

Publications

NameDocument
Plane Talk: Passenger with DisabilitiesView Link
Annual Report on Disability-Related Air Travel ComplaintsView Link

Related Links

Name
Public Awareness Campaign to Ensure Air Travelers with Disabilities Know Their Rights
Disability Training Materials and Helpful Information
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report on Disability-Training Programs
FAA-Approved Portable Oxygen Concentrators
Public Meeting on Air Travel by Persons Who Use Wheelchairs - March 24, 2022