(FeaturedNews.com) – On Wednesday, the Department of Transportation announced that airlines would now need to make lavatories on new single-aisle planes big enough so that two people are able to fit comfortably in the space. The new rule is aiming to make lavatories more accessible and will allow millions of wheelchair users to use the bathrooms on their flights.
Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary, noted that traveling is already a stressful experience and that millions of wheelchair users are currently forced to decide between remaining hydrated on the plane or simply not traveling because of the lack of accessibility.
The new rule which was announced in a press release is going to be authorized through the Air Carrier Access Act, and it will specifically require that lavatories on planes be large enough that a passenger with a physical disability will still be comfortably able to use the space and maneuver within it.
In aircraft that have twin-aisles, large accessible lavatories first became a requirement in 1990. However, single-aisle aircraft which are frequently used even for longer flights now did not have this requirement previously. As such, disabled passengers were often on a plane for hours without having the option to visit the lavatory.
Founder of WheelchairTravel.org, John Morris, is a frequent traveler and a triple amputee. As he pointed out, denying people the option of visiting the bathroom is a type of “torture” that has been employed throughout human history. He added that he does not believe that this should also occur on planes.
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