The Department of Transportation issued a new rule that requires airline lavatories to be more accessible. The rule requires airlines to make lavatories on new single-aisle aircraft large enough to permit a passenger with a disability and an attendant to approach, enter, and maneuver within using an on-board wheelchair. It also requires improvements to on-board wheelchairs to make them easier and safer to use. These changes are intended to make travel easier and less stressful for people who use wheelchairs.  

The rule also requires lavatories in new single aisle aircraft to have important accessibility features, including:  

• Grab bars 
• Accessible faucets and controls 
• Accessible call buttons and door locks 
• Minimum obstruction to the passage of an on-board wheelchair  
• Toe clearance 
• An available visual barrier for privacy 

The rule takes effect on October 2, 2023, with changes phased in over the next twelve years.