DOT Issues Final Rule Concerning Accessibility Of Lavatories On Narrow-Body Aircraft

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on July 26, 2023, announced its issuance of a final rule entitled "Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft." The final rule amends Part 382 of the DOT regulations¹ to require that certain newly ordered or delivered narrow-body aircraft offer improved accessibility for on-board lavatories. At the time of the announcement, DOT issued an advance copy of the final rule, along with a press release.² This note provides a general overview of the Final Rule and is not intended to be exhaustive.

This final rule follows on the heels of a March 2022 DOT Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in which DOT proposed to require airlines to have at least one lavatory on new single-aisle aircraft with 125 or more seats that is large enough for a passenger with a disability to use the aircraft's on-board wheelchair (OBW) - and with help from an assistant, if necessary - to