Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, along with the seven passenger airlines – Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United – announce a new pledge to improve safe, accessible air travel to all passengers with disabilities including those with mobility, cognitive and social disabilities.

Airlines for America’s (A4A) passenger airlines, jointly commit to taking steps to improve accessibility and services for passengers with disabilities,” announced A4A’s seven passenger airline CEOs in a statement. “We recognize the need for a specific commitment to remove barriers to safe, accessible air travel.”

As part of the commitment, A4A’s passenger airlines have pledged to four actions to improve accessibility, while continuing to prioritize the safety of all passengers:

• Carriers will establish a passenger accessibility advisory group within the airlines to work directly with the disability community to improve policies and operations.
• Carriers pledge to improve passenger transfers and the handling of personal mobility aids.
• Carriers commit to improving the accessibility services training for frontline employees and providing more education on passengers with disabilities for all airline industry workers. 
• Carriers will support the continuing study and development of safe and feasible aircraft accessibility features that broaden air travel opportunities for passengers with disabilities.

In addition to improving air travel for the disability community through the four-part commitment, A4A’s passenger airlines meet all Department of Transportation (DOT) accessibility standards and fully support the rights of passengers with disabilities set forth in the DOT’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, most especially the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

A4A passenger airlines have long been engaged in a variety of initiatives to increase air travel accessibility. They are committed to continuing to work with the disability community, aircraft and mobility aid manufacturers and safety regulators to explore safe and feasible solutions that reduce barriers to air travel and believe the industry’s accessibility commitment is a step forward in enhancing the travel experience for passengers with disabilities.

A4A member airlines are proud to do their part today and every day to eliminate barriers to air travel for the accessibility community. For more information about their commitment, please visit https://airlines.org/accessibility.