DOT UPDATES WEBSITE ON CURRENT WHEELCHAIR RULE ENFORCEMENT
November 6, 2025
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On October 3, 2025, the Department issued a notice that temporarily paused enforcement of certain provisions in the December 2024 Wheelchair Rule, including the establishment of a rebuttable presumption regarding airline liability for damaged wheelchairs. Enforcement is delayed while the Department engages in a new rulemaking process to determine whether the rule should be modified. Enforcement of certain portions of the Wheelchair Rule is currently delayed until December 31, 2026.
This afternoon, the Department updated its website to provide additional clarification to consumers about the delayed enforcement as it relates to the rebuttable presumption. The updated website reflects how delayed enforcement of certain provisions of the Wheelchair Rule until December 31, 2026, including the establishment of the rebuttable presumption regarding liability, impacts airline liability for damaged wheelchairs. Importantly, the updated information clarifies that the enforcement delay does not negate carriers’ responsibility to care for a passenger’s assistive device or their responsibility to pay for damage to wheelchairs when the damage was caused by the carrier. Interested parties are encouraged to review DOT’s updated website (available here) to fully understand how delayed enforcement affects airline liability for damaged wheelchairs. Carriers should also direct passengers with any questions on liability for damaged wheelchairs to the Department’s updated website. Even though enforcement of certain provisions is delayed until December 31, 2026, carriers should take note that all other provisions of the Wheelchair Rule are enforceable.
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