Consultation is open on new aviation disability standards.
Community Information Forum: Aviation Accessibility Steering Committee
People with Disability Australia (PWDA), the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) and the Justice and Equity Centre (JEC) hosted an online Community Information Forum on Tuesday 8 September to explain the Government’s Aviation Disability Standards consultation.
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Consultation closes: Friday 2 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.
As members of the Aviation Accessibility Steering Committee, PWDA, AFDO & JEC aim to support people with disability to understand the proposed standards and how to participate in the consultation.
The forum invited active discussion and questions from attendees to better understand the proposed standards and the options for each area covered by the standards.
The discussion highlighted the significant and varied barriers people with disability continue to experience when travelling by air.
The forum outlined
- the proposed standards
- how the consultation process works
- the different ways people can have their say.
Importantly, participants were reminded that they do not need to be policy experts, respond to every proposal or make a long submission.
People can focus on the issues and experiences that matter to them, including issues they believe are missing from the proposed standards.
Justice and Equity Centre Explainer: draft Aviation Disability Standards
The Justice and Equity Centre has developed an explainer to help people understand the draft Aviation Disability Standards and participate in the consultation.
It works through the Government’s proposals and provides JEC’s analysis, including areas where JEC considers the proposals could go further.
Refer to the JEC Explainer: Draft aviation disability standards for more help. The explainer outlines the options being considered by the Government:
- regulatory reform (new laws the aviation industry must follow),
- non-regulatory reform (non-compulsory guidance for industry) and
- no change (status quo).
How can people have their say?
Submissions can be made in a variety of ways:
- complete the Government’s survey
- send a written, video or audio submission to AviationAccessibility@infrastructure.gov.au
- provide your feedback by telephone (free call) 1800 621 372, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm AEST (except public holidays).
Please email AviationAccessibility@infrastructure.gov.au if you would like to share your views in other accessible formats or have any questions regarding this process.
What we heard at the Community Information Forum
There were a few key themes highlighted during the discussion that showed common areas requiring attention by airlines and the Government. Below we have outlined each of the key themes and provided suggestions for sections of the consultation paper to address in your submission in relation to these themes.
Inconsistent experiences across air travel:
Participants described inconsistent treatment between airlines, airports, security and individual staff, with access information often not carried through the whole journey.
Sections to address: passenger assistance profiles’ (section 2.1) as well as about airline/airport responsibility (section 1.1) and staff training (section 1.2).
Unclear responsibility and poor handovers:
There were concerns about who is responsible for supporting passengers at different stages of travel and whether handovers between airlines and airports create further communication gaps.
Section 1.1 for airline/ airport responsibility AND passenger assistance profiles Section 2.1
Better staff training, led by lived experience:
Participants called for ongoing disability awareness and accessibility training informed and delivered by people with disability, including trauma-informed communication and improved security screening practices.
Section 1.2 for staff training.
Barriers for assistance animal handlers:
Key issues included inconsistent approval processes, restrictions on assistance animals in training, codeshare travel, stressful security procedures and differences between airline requirements.
Section 2.5 of the consultation paper on clarifying rules for carriage of assistance animals.
Mobility aids and disability equipment:
Participants raised concerns about regulation, available information, transportation and the handling of assistance equipment, including damage, handling, baggage limits, wheelchair passenger limits and being required to transfer out of their own mobility aid too early.
Refer to the following sections of the consultation paper on assistance equipment:
- Section 1.2 in relation to staff training on mobility aid handling
- Section 2.6 in relation to approval for equipment classed as ‘dangerous goods’
- Section 2.7 on ensuring disability aids can be transported free and in-cabin
- Section 2.10 on providing information about accessibility options before booking
- Section 3.1 on allowing people to stay with their own mobility aid as long as possible
- Section 3.9 on protecting disability aids from damage and loss, and
- Section 4.4 on returning mobility aids on arrival
Extra costs and financial disadvantage:
Concerns included additional seating costs, support person costs, paying more for flights that can accommodate disability equipment, and whether disability equipment should be excluded from baggage limits.
Section 2.7 – Ensure disability aids can be transported for free and in-cabin, where possible. Additional seating costs, support person costs and paying more to travel on flights that accommodate disability equipment are not specifically covered because it is not transparent to the government how the airlines are charging. We want to hear from people what is happening, and how they want it to change.
Regional and remote accessibility:
Participants stressed that air travel is essential for many people accessing healthcare, employment and community, and called for strong accessibility requirements across regional, remote, private and charter airports.
Best covered under Section 1 – Whole of journey.
Greater accountability, co-design and enforcement:
There was strong support for people with disability to be meaningfully involved in training, reference groups and decision-making, alongside clearer requirements to ensure accessibility commitments lead to real change.
- Section 1 – Making the standards enforceable
- Section 1.3 – Disability reference groups
- Section 1.4 – Reporting on how standards are being met
- Section 1.2 – Ensure people with disability are involved in codesign and delivery of training.
What are the aviation disability standards?
People with disability face significant and regular barriers when travelling by air.
Airport and airline services, policies and practices do not meet the needs of passengers with disability.
For years, the disability community has asked the Australian Government to do more to improve the accessibility of air travel.
The Government has committed to developing ‘Aviation Disability Standards’, which would be co-designed with people with disability.
When implemented, they would apply throughout Australia and set out requirements for airlines and airports to make their services accessible.
Watch the video below to hear from PWDA, AFDO and JEC representatives on the work that has been done so far and how to get involved:
How do people find out more about the consultation?
The Australian Government is calling on people with disability, family members, advocates, carers or friends to share their feedback on the new aviation disability standards.
Feedback gathered over the consultation period will help the Australian Government make sure air travel in Australia is accessible and inclusive for people with disability
The Government’s Have your say website page has links to factsheets, online webinars, videos with Auslan translations and ways to access resources in Easy Read, Braille and other languages.
The Government recorded their information session for the public which has now been uploaded to the website, including a transcript, and a Q&A with answers.
Consultation closes: Friday 2 October 2026 at 11:59 PM (AEST).
How can people have their say?
Submissions can be made in a variety of ways:
- complete the Government’s survey
- send a written, video or audio submission to AviationAccessibility@infrastructure.gov.au
- provide your feedback by telephone (free call) 1800 621 372, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm AEST (except public holidays).
Please email AviationAccessibility@infrastructure.gov.au if you would like to share your views in other accessible formats or have any questions regarding this process.