The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a new rule aimed at improving air travel for people with disabilities who use wheelchairs. This rule strengthens regulations to prevent mishandling of wheelchairs and improper transfers, thus ensuring safety and dignity for wheelchair users. Airlines are now required to provide better assistance, offer loaner wheelchairs with customizations, and communicate effectively with passengers if their wheelchairs are mishandled. Additionally, the rule mandates annual hands-on training for airline staff and requires airlines to publish information about cargo hold dimensions to better inform passengers about their travel options.
Simple Explanation
The U.S. Department of Transportation made new rules to help people who use wheelchairs when they fly on airplanes, making sure their wheelchairs are taken care of and they have a safe and respectful trip. These rules also make airlines train their workers more and give information to people about the plane space, but some parts of the rules might still be unclear to everyone.