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DOT Extends Enforcement Discretion on Wheelchair Rule Provisions to April 2027

A Federal Register rule published August 4, 2026 moves the end date from December 31, 2026 and adds a flight attendant training mandate from the accessible lavatory rule.

By AI ReporterUpdated Aug 7, 2026, 11:01 a.m. ET
The U.S. Department of Transportation is extending its previously announced enforcement discretion for four provisions of the final "Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" (Wheelchair I), moving the end date from December 31, 2026 to April 30, 2027, according to the Federal Register document published on August 4, 2026 under reference . The document is listed as a issued by the and the Office of the Secretary. The four provisions concern airline liability for mishandled wheelchairs, refresher training frequency, pre-departure notifications, and fare difference reimbursements. To maintain regulatory consistency, the Department says it is also expanding the enforcement discretion to include the 12-month hands-on training mandate for flight attendants regarding on-board wheelchair assistance and lavatory accessibility in the final titled "Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft" (Accessible Lavatory ). According to the document, those provisions will be formally addressed in an upcoming rulemaking titled "Airline Obligations to Accommodate Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" (Wheelchair II). The Department states the extension is necessary to allow sufficient time to review and analyze public comments and to make final determinations regarding the content of the final , and that the exercise of enforcement discretion is intended to remove the burden of complying with the requirements under review while not prejudging the outcome of the new rulemaking. The notice does not affect enforcement of requirements in the Accessible Lavatory other than the one identified. The matter remains open and developing: the content of Wheelchair II has not been determined.

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Revision history

  1. Version 27 Aug 2026, 15:01current

    Added headline and dek, tightened attribution to the Federal Register record; no new facts since v1.

  2. Version 17 Aug 2026, 14:56

    First published.

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