Delta Air Lines, DOT update plans for adaptive wheelchair seats on future flights

A long-sought goal for disabled travelers may soon come to fruition. The Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and Delta Air Lines all confirmed that work is in progress to allow travelers who rely on wheelchairs to fly seated in their own equipment. 

“This is the moment we have been waiting for. I am thrilled,” Sophie Morgan, founder of the Rights on Flights campaign, said in a statement. “This is the first step on a long journey towards change. Now, we call on all airlines to adopt this invocation and change the world for wheelchair users.” 

As Morgan said, it’s a cause that has been central for many disability advocates.

Airlines in the U.S. damage or destroy 10,000-15,000 wheelchairs and other mobility devices each year on average, according to DOT statistics, and many advocates have previously told USA TODAY that allowing disabled travelers to remain in their wheelchairs, rather than forcing them to check the devices, is a key step to making travel more accessible. 

“This has been a 15-year journey that we have worked so hard to see come closer to fruition,” Michelle Erwin, CEO of All Wheels Up, an advocacy group for disabled travelers, said in a statement. “We are so grateful for the support of so many stakeholders, most notably (Paralyzed Veterans of America) and (the National Institute for Aviation Research) to get us to this point. There is still work to be done, but it’s not a question of why or how anymore, it’s a question of when.” 

The DOT confirmed that concepts for in-cabin wheelchair securement are already working their way through the approvals process. 

“At the direction of Secretary Buttigieg, the FAA has been conducting and supporting research on installing wheelchair restraint systems in the aircraft cabin to enable passengers to fly in their own wheelchair,” DOT Spokesperson Sean Manning told USA TODAY in a statement. “Currently, the FAA has not identified any major issues to installation, and mitigations for any minor issues are being developed. We are pleased to share that the FAA expects to determine the feasibility of wheelchairs on aircraft by the end of 2025.” 

But that doesn’t mean travelers should expect to be able to actually fly while seated in their wheelchairs as soon as next year. Once the FAA and DOT determine it’s technically feasible, airlines will still have to take time to install the new kinds of seats on their aircraft and get their individual versions of the accommodation approved by regulators.  

The DOT is considering requiring airlines to install such equipment once approved, but that will be part of a separate process. 

“DOT will also conduct a study to assess the economic and financial feasibility of airlines accommodating passengers with wheelchairs in the main cabin during flight as required by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024,” Manning’s statement said. “Based on the results of the study, DOT can conduct a negotiated rulemaking to allow passengers to remain in their wheelchairs during a flight.”

Still, those changes could come quickly by airline standards. 

Delta Flight Products displayed an early concept for in-cabin wheelchair travel at the Aircraft Cabin Interiors Expo in Hamburg in 2023 and an updated version at the same show in 2024. 

A Delta spokesperson confirmed that Delta Flight Products has already submitted for FAA approval. 

“Delta Flight Products’ applications, which could ultimately enable this first-of-its-kind seat to be installed on an aircraft, is a remarkable milestone in the industry’s journey to make travel more inclusive for all,” a statement from the airline said. “Delta has long pioneered efforts to increase air travel accessibility and will continue to invest in technology and innovation to support all our customers.” 

It typically takes years for airlines to refit their cabins. Delta, for example, said it could take up to seven years to finish a separate cabin refresh it’s working on, but disabled travelers could be able to travel in their wheelchairs on commercial flights regularly by the end of the decade if things stay on track. Delta has not confirmed plans to install the wheelchair seats on its aircraft if approved.