WASHINGTON — (WASHINGTON) -- The Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced a rule that will require airlines to make lavatories on new single-aisle planes large enough for two people to enter in a move to make bathrooms more accessible.
"Traveling can be stressful enough without worrying about being able to access a restroom; yet today, millions of wheelchair users are forced to choose between dehydrating themselves before boarding a plane or avoiding air travel altogether," said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a press release announcing the rule.
In twin-aisle aircraft, accessible lavatories have been required since 1990. Yet as the range and fuel efficiency of single-aisle aircraft have increased, these planes now take longer flights. That can leave passengers with disabilities with no way to use the bathroom for hours on end. "Denying someone the ability to go to the bathroom is certainly a form of torture that has been used by rogue individuals in human history," Morris said."I just don't think that that should be the case on an airplane."
"We need to ensure that people have the ability to go to the bathroom when they need to, without significant barriers being in place between them and carrying out that bodily function that is something that every human being needs to do," said Morris.
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