The United States Department of Transportation ( DOT
) has fined American Airlines an eye-watering sum in an attempt to set a new standard of accountability for airlines.

Multiple cases spanning four years

In an announcement on October 25, the DOT announced that it had imposed a $50 million penalty against American Airlines.

The Department cited numerous severe violations of laws protecting passengers with reduced mobility between 2019 and 2023, with an investigation uncovering cases of unsafe physical assistance, undignified treatment of wheelchair users, and repeated failures to provide prompt wheelchair assistance.

“American also mishandled thousands of wheelchairs by damaging them or delaying their return, leaving travelers without the device they need for mobility.”

American Airlines Boeing 737-800 (N337PJ) blasting out of Los Angeles International Airport.

Photo: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock

Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary of the US, highlighted that the tolerance of poor treatment of passengers with reduced mobility was over. The penalty will be a new standard of accountability for airlines that violate the rights of passengers with disabilities, Buttigieg added.

“By setting penalties at levels beyond a mere cost of doing business for airlines, we’re aiming to change how the industry behaves and prevent these kinds of abuses from happening in the first place.”

In a statement on the same day, Carl Blake, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) chief executive officer (CEO), said the association was pleased that the DOT has made such a strong statement of how it will hold airlines accountable.

The PVA highlighted that it had filed three sets of complaints against American Airlines, which helped the DOT with its investigation.

Nevertheless, the DOT concluded that these problems were present at other US carriers, with the Department currently having several active investigations.

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Settlement with the DOT

However, in response, American Airlines issued its own statement, saying that it had formally reached a settlement with the DOT. The carrier promised to continue its “significant actions to improve the travel experience for customers traveling with wheelchairs and mobility devices.”

According to the airline, it has a long-standing commitment to serving passengers with disabilities, and in 2023, American Airlines helped more than 8 million passengers who requested assistance.

“American provides these services in accordance with all regulations free of charge and in challenging airport environments around the world where weather, air traffic control, and other complexities can make travel difficult for all passengers.”

Tails of American Airlines planes

Photo: CaseyMartin | Shutterstock

In 2024, the carrier invested more than $175 million in services, infrastructure, training, and new technology to help passengers with disabilities have an easier journey.

An October 23 DOT filing quoted American Airlines as stating that it entered “into this agreement for settlement purposes only and does not admit any violation of any statute or regulation, waive any statute of limitations, or concede the Department’s statement of applicable law or recitation of facts and conclusions.”

After analyzing all of the facts, the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) approved “this settlement and the provisions of the order as being in the public interest.”

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Incoming regulation

In February, the DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled ‘Safe and Accessible Air Travel.’ The purpose of the document was to ensure access to safe and dignified air travel for people with disabilities. The NPRM received over 200 comments.

Passenger with reduced mobility being escored through the airport shutterstock_1377016847

Photo: Formatoriginal | Shutterstock

On March 12, the Department published another NPRM titled ‘Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs.’ That document received over 1,700 comments, with the DOT extending the comment period until June 12.

In the announcement on October 25, the DOT said that it has been working toward issuing a final rule.

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