The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a new rule designed to make flying easier for wheelchair users by mandating lavatories accessible to them—eventually.
The new rules apply to single-aisle planes such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320; wide-body planes are already required to have at least one wheelchair-accessible facility. The new rule calls for enhanced features on new single-aisle planes starting in 2026, and fully-accessible lavatories on planes delivered in 2035 and after. Either way, that’s a long wait for the toilet!
A statement from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that “Traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about being able to access a restroom; yet today, millions of wheelchair users are forced to choose between dehydrating themselves before boarding a plane or avoiding air travel altogether. We are proud to announce this rule that will make airplane bathrooms larger and more accessible, ensuring travelers in wheelchairs are afforded the same access and dignity as the rest of the traveling public.”
The issue has become more important in recent years as more and more trans-continental and intercontinental flights are flown with single-aisle planes, and wide-body flights are often not available on many routes. Waiting out a six-hour coast-to-coast flight is a lot different from a two-hour hop.
