DOT mandates accessible bathrooms on new planes

Monday, 28 Jul, 2023 1

The Department of Transportation will require airlines to make aircraft bathrooms more accessible.

Accessible bathrooms will be required on new single-aisle aircraft under new regulations.

It will be a requirement for new single-aisle planes delivered from 2026.

For those with 125 seats or more ordered from 2033, fully-accessible lavatories will be mandatory.

Currently accessible bathrooms are only required for wide bodies jets.

An accessible bathroom requires grab bars and accessible taps and controls, as well as assistance buttons and accessible door locks.

“Today, millions of wheelchair users are forced to choose between dehydrating themselves before a flight or avoiding air travel altogether,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

“We are proud to announce this rule that will make airplane bathrooms larger and more accessible.”

“These aircraft must have at least one lavatory to permit a passenger with a disability and maneuver within the aircraft lavatory, to use all facilities,” the DOT said.

No airline will be required to retrofits currently operating aircraft.

The DOT made the announcement on the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

below social share icons

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

Why choose Titan Travel? There are some great travel companies out there – so why Titan? Well, we’re one of the UK’s leading escorted holiday companies (and have been ...

Travel Outlook, the premier hotel call center™ Travel Outlook is an innovative, custom off-site central reservations office (CRO) service that serves as either a prima...

STA was established to support the growth of the travel and tourism sector by serving the needs of tourism companies and other commercial partners. To promote Saudi Ar...

Offering the most powerful portfolio in the industry, our 30 brands and 8,000+ properties across 139 countries and territories give people more ways to connect, experi...

In 2019, Buffalo Tours and Olympus Tours joined the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) family and formed Discova. With the backing of one of the world’s largest travel ...

Via Croatia is a concierge-type, full-service luxury DMC working exclusively with travel agents and luxury tour operators. With 20 years of experience and local partne...

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego B...

Holiday Extras is the UK market leader in airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers and holiday insurance. Es...

Global Hotel Alliance brings together a unique collection of independent hospitality brands for GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty programme. GHA represents a collec...

Atout France guides and supports the French regions with their development strategy and helps set up investment projects in order to boost the tourism offering and rai...

The city has been the vibrant heart of Japan for over 400 years, and is a crossroads where tradition meets modernity. We work tirelessly to promote Tokyo to attract do...

Central Florida’s Polk County is conveniently located between Orlando and Tampa, and an easy drive to Central Florida attractions and the Gulf and Atlantic beaches. Po...

The superpower in bed banks for 30 years We are an award-winning and trusted accommodation wholesaler since 1991. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and have MSE2 rating f...

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casi...

Since 1932, P&O Cruises has offered Aussies and Kiwis the opportunity to take to the seas and have the holiday experience of a lifetime. Whether venturing near or ...

IHG Hotels & Resorts: Redefining Hospitality Excellence IHG Hotels & Resorts is a globally renowned hospitality company that stands at the forefront of the ind...

Traveltek is the world-leading provider of online solutions for the travel trade, from consumer-facing websites to call centre applications. We work with a wide range ...

ITB Asia, Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show, is an annually held B2B trade show and convention for the travel industry; it is designed to be the primary event for...