The United States Department of Transportation announced a new regulation that requires airline restrooms to be more easily accessible.
In honor of the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the DOT has now required airlines to install lavatories in new single-aisle planes that are large enough for a passenger with a physical disability and an attendant who are both the same size as a male 95th percentile.
Bathrooms must be large enough for two people to enter, exit and move around as needed.
“Traveling is stressful enough, without having to worry about whether you can access the restroom. Yet today, millions are forced to decide between dehydrating before boarding an airplane or avoiding flying altogether,” U.S. Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated.
Buttigieg added, “We’re proud to announce the rule that will make airline bathrooms larger and accessible. This rule ensures travelers in wheelchairs have the same access and dignity the rest of the travelling public.”
The DOT also made recent major investments to make infrastructure accessible. This included awarding billions to add wheelchair ramps to airport terminals as well as adding accessible restrooms to them. They also retrofitted rail and subway stations to include elevators, ramps, and other improvements.
The government has also laid the foundation for possible rule changes to address whether passengers should be allowed to fly in their wheelchairs and how airline personnel assists passengers with disabilities.
