DOT Fines AirTran Airways for Violating Rights of Travelers with Disabilities

From the Department of Transportation (8.30.10):
 
AirTran Fined for Violating Rules Protecting Air Travelers with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty against AirTran Airways for violating rules protecting air travelers with disabilities.  The carrier was assessed a civil penalty of $500,000, of which up to $200,000 may be used to improve its service to disabled passengers beyond what is required by law.

“People with disabilities have the right to expect fair treatment when they fly, and we will continue to take enforcement action when their rights are violated,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 requires airlines to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities in boarding and deplaning aircraft, including the use of wheelchairs, ramps, mechanical lifts or service personnel where needed.  U.S. Department of Transportation rules also require carriers to respond within 30 days to written complaints about their treatment of disabled passengers, and to specifically address the issues raised in the complaint.  In addition, airlines must submit annual reports to the Department on disability-related complaints from passengers, noting the type of disability and nature of the complaint.

An investigation by the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Enforcement Office of disability complaints filed with AirTran and DOT revealed a number of violations of the requirement for boarding assistance.  In addition, the carrier’s complaint files showed that it frequently did not provide an adequate written response to complaints from passengers.  AirTran also failed to properly categorize disability complaints in reports filed with the Department, the Aviation Enforcement Office found.

Of the $500,000 penalty, up to $60,000 may be used to establish a council to help the carrier comply with federal disability rules and hire a manager for disability accommodations.  Up to $140,000 may be used to develop and employ an automated wheelchair tracking system at AirTran’s major hub airports within one year that will generate real-time reports of the carrier’s wheelchair assistance performance.

The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov , docket DOT-OST-2010-0005.

Comments

[Karen Duncanwood]

This is a step forward. When will airlines be required to transport people and their wheelchairs without trashing/damaging them 1/3-1/2 of the time. My son travels nationally and internationally, and has had horrendous service respecting his wheelchair. He spends so much time dealing with their disrespect and managerial incompetence. We attended Obama's Inauguration and his chair was broken on the way in (causing us to push it with him in it - more than 250 lbs.), and on the way back they completely sheared off his joy stick (controls)which was left dangling by a wire. How does an airline shear off a metal joy stick mount? We're sick of it, having dealth with it for over 25 years. Complaints do nothing to change the practice. If a traveler without disabilities had his car smashed in airport parking 1/3 to 1/2 of his flights this would have been changed decades ago. No one cares enough to stop it. His wheelchair is his legs and the Air Carrier's Access Act allows it over & over & over. How about some decent legislation and HEFTY fines to change management's lack of enforcement? His new wheelchair is less than two years old and has been trashed 5-6 times. Come on all you right wingers, where is your concern for property damage?

[Hopping Mad in Ohio]

Good for you,Karen!We must not only continue to point out the injustices against us but also expose the right wing for everything they are doing to so severely damage OUR community, something that is not known in the mainstream of American politics. People erroneously believe that the Tea Party people are acting independently and care oh so much about America. But neither are true. They are backed by the right wing who is using their frustrations to do more evil with all the while wrapping themselves in the American Flag!

[Elaine McDevitt]

Hi Karen,
My son Scott has the same problem when he travels also. He has put handle with care / fragile signs on it, it still does not work. We also had to push him. We now hold our breath, are extremely worried, hold our breath and now take the joy stick off. Wrap it up and carry it on with us.

Elaine