TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

airports

DOT Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness of Rights of Airline Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs

by

A man in a wheelchair navigating a crowded airline terminal

The US Department of Transportation is marking the 37th anniversary of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) by initiating the #AccessibleAirTravel campaign to underscore the right of air travelers with disabilities to safe, dignified, and accessible air travel.

“Airline passengers with disabilities deserve to travel safely and with dignity,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “DOT is proud to partner with the aviation industry and members of the disability community to ensure that all travelers with disabilities know their rights.”

As part of the launch, the DOT emphasized some of the actions the Biden administration has taken or is taking to improve the air travel experience of individuals using wheelchairs, including:

  • To address many of the significant barriers facing passengers who use wheelchairs, the Department has initiated a rule proposing to make it an automatic violation of ACAA regulations for airlines to mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair.
  • In July 2023, DOT finalized a rule which requires airlines to make lavatories on new, single-aisle aircraft more accessible.Under this final rule, airlines are required to take various steps to improve the accessibility of these lavatories short of increasing their size in the short term.
  • DOT has begun laying the groundwork for a potential rule that would allow passengers to stay in their own wheelchairs when they fly. Read more.

Our TakeAway: We applaud the DOT’s new campaign and the actions it is taking to improve the air travel experience for passengers who use wheelchairs. But we have to wonder how much can be done to improve the accessibility of lavatories without increasing their size?

3 WAYS TO ACHIEVE A CLEAN NEW DEAL

by

two hands waving with blue rubber gloves on

Ahhh, cleanliness, everyone’s favorite new word. If our industry follows the trends, it will go from a deal-breaker to a deal maker in the future. Start by learning the latest news, below.

  1. New Airline Regulations For COVID-19 and Beyond In a survey of aviation executives by consulting group ICF, 92 percent of respondents said 1. they expect to see enhanced aircraft hygiene requirements post-COVID-19. At least one U.S. airline—Delta—has said it plans to use its new extensive sanitizing procedures for the foreseeable future. Other carriers are likely to follow suit as a response to the crisis, according to CNTRAVELER.

    OUR TAKE: Who knew sanitizing procedures would be the new sexy must-have?  We joke, but we’re also pleased to see the level to which companies have promised to rise for safety’s sake. 

2. New Cleaning Protocols, New Cleanliness Advisory Council 
“We are living in a new age, with COVID-19 front and center for our guests and our associates,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president/CEO. “We are grateful for the trust our guests have shown us through the years. We want our guests to understand what we are doing today and planning for in the near future in the areas of cleanliness, hygiene, and social distancing, he told HotelManagement.net.

OUR TAKE: Trust is what will bring back travelers. That’s why the council is focused on developing global hospitality cleanliness standards, norms, and behaviors that are designed to minimize risk and enhance safety.

3. Learn What Is Level 3 Cleaning Entails  They tossed, bedding, mattresses, kitchen utensils, and hundreds and hundreds of towels. Then they barricaded each area to assure it remained uncontaminated. That’s only part of what a Level 3 cleaning requires, Shelden Yellen of  CEO of BELFOR Property Restoration told Travelpulse.com He was in charge of cleaning the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where 697 passengers tested positive and seven died. (The cruise had 2,666  guests and  1,045 crew on board, according to Reuters.) He spoke about the cleaning process of the ships in a Q&A with Fox News. A full write-up on Yellen from TravelPulse.com appears here.  

OUR TAKE: This particular cleaning job is called a Level 3, the highest standard there is. The company used all  Level 3 protocols to protect themselves and eradicate the virus. Such attention to detail will likely be on the minds of devoted cruise passengers when (not if) these beautiful boats sail again. 

PLUS: Cleanliness Standards All In One Place!
Sector-by-Sector COVID-19 Protocols and How Effective They Were

Covid-19 cleanliness protocols must be at a standard that meets the needs of our most vulnerable travelers: those with a disability or aging baby boomers (who now control over 70% of the discretionary income in the U.S.) At TravelAbility 2020 (virtual) Presenters from each of the following industry sectors will share their post- COVID-19 cleanliness protocols, how they were promoted, and how effective they were in attracting business.

  • Destination Marketing Organizations: State and CVB 
  • Hotels: Guests, staff, F&B and social distancing for meetings
  • Convention Centers: Cleaning and Social distancing protocols 
  • Airports: Cleaning & concessions protocols for disabled
  • Attractions: Cleaning and social distancing
  • Cruise Lines: Cleaning, food preparation, and social distancing
  • Rental Car: Cleaning and social distancing
  • Amtrak: Cleaning and social distancing
  • Airlines: Cleaning, boarding process, and distancing
  • Escorted Tours: Social Distancing

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Your name and email will never be sold to third parties.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Your name and email will never be sold to 3rd parties.