# 2026-15835: DOT Gives Airlines More Time on Wheelchair Accommodations

2026-15835, Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft and Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department published 2026-08-04, effective 2026-08-04; deemed significant under Executive Order 12866; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15835
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-15835
- Title: Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft and Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department
- Citation: 91 FR 49272
- Published: 2026-08-04
- Effective: 2026-08-04
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: yes (FR_METADATA)
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2105-AE89
- Last updated: 2026-08-11

## In one line

DOT Gives Airlines More Time on Wheelchair Accommodations

## Summary

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.

## Effects PRIA read

- Enforcement Pause on Wheelchair Liability: cost, medium. As of August 4, 2026, the Department of Transportation will not enforce 14 CFR 382.130(a) (airline liability for mishandled wheelchairs) until April 30, 2027. This means DOT will temporarily pause enforcing that specific liability requirement during that period.
- Pre-Departure Notification Enforcement Delayed: cost, low. As of August 4, 2026, enforcement of 14 CFR 382.125(e) (pre-departure notifications) is delayed until April 30, 2027. During that time, DOT will not enforce this specific pre-departure notification requirement.
- Fare Difference Reimbursement Pause: cost, medium. As of August 4, 2026, enforcement of 14 CFR 382.132 (fare difference reimbursements) is delayed until April 30, 2027. DOT will temporarily not enforce this reimbursement requirement during that period.
- Refresher Training Frequency Enforcement Paused: mixed, medium. As of August 4, 2026, enforcement of the at-least-once-every-12-month refresher training requirement in 14 CFR 382.141(a)(6) is delayed until April 30, 2027. DOT will not enforce that 12-month refresher-training frequency during the pause.
- Accessible Lavatory Hands-On Training Delayed: mixed, medium. As of August 4, 2026, DOT is expanding its enforcement discretion to delay enforcement of the 12-month hands-on training mandate in 14 CFR 382.63(h)(1) (on-board wheelchair assistance and lavatory accessibility) until April 30, 2027. DOT will not enforce that annual hands-on training requirement du…

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## Sources
- [2026-15835 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/04/2026-15835/accessible-lavatories-on-single-aisle-aircraft-and-ensuring-safe-accommodations-for-air-travelers)
- [2026-15835 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-04/pdf/2026-15835.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15835 (as of 2026-08-11).