The U.S. Department of Transportation has extended its temporary pause on enforcement of part of the wheelchair-accessibility rule for airlines, delaying action on the annual refresher-training requirement until 30 April 2027. The move affects provisions tied to wheelchair assistance, including personnel training, mishandled wheelchair liability, pre-departure notifications and fare-difference reimbursements.
The extension replaces an earlier enforcement timeline that would have ended on 31 December 2026. DOT said the additional time will allow it to review public comments and continue work on the wider accessibility framework, including the next phase of rulemaking often referred to as Wheelchair Rule II.
The training provision under pause requires covered airline staff to receive refresher training at least once every 12 months. The enforcement discretion remains temporary, rather than a withdrawal of the underlying rule, and applies across the affected provisions until the revised date.