DOT To Address Inaccessible Lavatories On Single-Aisle Aircraft
by Michele McDonaldVirgin America Airbus A320. Photo:
The Department of Transportation’s ACCESS Advisory Committee, which was established to develop a proposed rule concerning accommodations for air travelers with disabilities, reached a consensus on improving the accessibility of lavatories on single-aisle aircraft and of in-flight entertainment.
The committee, which includes a DOT official and representatives of airlines, persons with disabilities, flight attendants, aircraft manufacturers, motion picture studios and other interested parties, noted that passengers today who use wheelchairs cannot access a lavatory on single-aisle aircraft and often must either avoid flying or dehydrate themselves.
The committee agreed that in the short term, the department should develop improved safety and maneuverability standards for the aircraft. In the long term, the committee will require airlines to provide an accessible lavatory, equivalent to that currently found on twin-aisle aircraft, on aircraft with more than 125 passenger seats, as well as captioning on their in-flight entertainment whenever available for those with hearing or vision problems.
The Department plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking based on this agreement in July 2017.
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines customers requesting wheelchair assistance now have a hotline to call for immediate support prior to, during and after their trip. The hotline, 1-800-984-8935, is available throughout the United States, Caribbean and Canada daily from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. ET. The calls are answered by Delta’s Baggage Operations Control Center in Augusta, GA. Delta employees take immediate action, working with stations around the system to assist the customer.
