Last week, Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Tammy Duckworth and the U.S. Department of Transportation issued sweeping protections to help all Americans fly with dignity, including the 5.5M that use wheelchairs.

This ruling is a big step in the right direction for people with disabilities that will ensure that they can fly commercially safely and with dignity.

Earlier this year, DOT issued a record-breaking penalty against American Airlines for unsafe and undignified treatment of passengers with disabilities.  In 2023, over 900 wheelchairs a month were damaged or destroyed during air travel in the United States. DOT data shows that for every 100 wheelchairs or scooters transported on domestic flights at least one is damaged, delayed, or lost.