in effect
This is a formal notice from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announcing that it will temporarily stop enforcing four specific requirements from a December 2024 rule that established new protections for airline passengers who travel with wheelchairs. The pause is not a repeal — it is an exercise of “enforcement discretion,” meaning DOT will not take action against airlines that fail to comply with those four provisions while the agency reviews whether to revise them through a new rulemaking process.
As of September 30, 2025, DOT will not enforce four specific regulatory provisions through at least December 31, 2026: (1) the requirement that airlines be liable when a passenger’s wheelchair or assistive device is not returned on time or in the same condition it was received (14 CFR 382.130(a)); (2) the requirement specifying how often airline employees and contractors must receive refresher training (14 CFR 382.141(a)(6)); (3) the requirement that airlines notify passengers checking a wheelchair or scooter of their right to contact a Complaint Resolution Official and file a claim before the flight departs (14 CFR 382.125(e)); and (4) the requirement that airlines reimburse the fare difference when a wheelchair user had to take a different, more expensive flight because their device could not fit on their original flight (14 CFR 382.132). All other requirements in the original Wheelchair Rule remain in force and will continue to be enforced. DOT has announced it plans to issue a proposed new rule on these four provisions by August 2026, with a public comment period to follow before any final decision is made.
Airlines and their contractors are directly affected, as they are relieved from the obligation to comply with those four specific provisions during the enforcement pause and will not face DOT penalties for non-compliance with them through December 31, 2026. Air travelers who use wheelchairs or other assistive devices are also affected, as they will not have the backing of DOT enforcement on those four protections — specifically the liability guarantee for damaged or delayed equipment, pre-departure notification of their complaint rights, and fare-difference reimbursement — for the duration of the pause.