The new law would require the Department of Transportation to take a closer look at how incidents reported by airline passengers with disabilities are reviewed and resolved.
The bill, introduced by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), would require the Department of Transportation to prepare an annual report detailing disability-related travel complaints and including an overview of how quickly the complaints were addressed and resolved.
“For too long, airlines have gotten away with predatory practices that treat their customers like idiots and passengers with disabilities as disposable,” Duckworth said in a statement. “As Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, I am committed to making air travel as safe and convenient as possible for all travelers, including Americans with disabilities. By preventing disability-related complaints from being swept under the rug, our bipartisan bill will shine a light on these issues and help ensure that the millions of passengers with disabilities who fly each year are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
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How common are accidents for travelers with disabilities?
According to background information from Duckworth’s office, there has been a surge in complaints against airlines by travelers with disabilities in recent years.
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He said the Department of Transportation received 1,394 disability-related complaints in 2021, a 54% increase from the 905 disability-related complaints the Department received in 2019 and an increase of more than 157% from the 542 complaints received in 2020.
Mobility aid-related accidents, which appear to be categorized separately, are even more numerous: U.S. airlines mishandled 941 wheelchairs and scooters in November 2022, the most recent month for which data is available, according to the department. That’s roughly 1.5 accidents for every 100 mobility aids loaded onto planes that month.
What is proposed in the new law?
Under Duckworth and Fisher’s proposal, the Department of Transportation would establish new requirements for reviewing and resolving complaints from travelers with disabilities.
If the bill passes, the department would be required to publish an annual report containing five years’ worth of disability-related traveler complaint data.
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The report should include information about the substance of the complaint. Categories outlined in the proposal include:
Accidents related to mobility equipment; mobility difficulties or improper handling by airport or airline staff; accessibility of in-flight services and amenities; communication problems with the airline or its staff;
The report should also include information about the review process for such complaints, how promptly the review of each complaint was initiated, and the timeline by which the complaint was resolved or addressed.