Clear disability standards for Australia’s aviation industry are closer to reality, with a consultation paper outlining draft standards released today.

The new draft standards have been developed in response to the Albanese Government’s 2024 Aviation White Paper, which outlined a commitment to protect the rights of people with disability during air travel.

The consultation paper has been shaped through a number of co-design workshops held last year with people with disability, and through consultation with the aviation industry.

Drawing on the ideas developed through this consultation, the Australian Government has developed a set of draft options. There are multiple proposed solutions for the barriers people face during each stage of the travel journey, including:

• Whole of journey
• Booking and planning a flight
• Navigating and airport terminal experience
• The journey on aircraft

The solutions seek to make travelling easier and the experience more consistent for Australians with disability, their families, carers and support workers, while balancing the unique operational challenges faced by the aviation industry and workers.

Feedback will remain open until 2 October 2026 and you can read the draft standards at www.infrastructure.gov.au/Aviation-Disability-Standards.

The Australian Government has also developed the first new Australian Air Passenger Travel Guide to assist all travellers, including those with accessibility requirements or disability, navigate air travel.

The guide has been produced in accessible formats including Easy Read, Auslan, and video format, and translated into several languages including Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Greek and Italian to ensure everyone can learn how to avoid travel pitfalls and traps, especially when travelling for the first time.

To access the Australian Air Passenger Travel Guide head to: www.infrastructure.gov.au/travelguide
 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King MP:

“5.5 million Australians live with disability, and they deserve equitable access to air travel. It’s a vast country and access to air travel is an important part of Australian life.

“I want to thank everyone who’s taken the time to share their stories and help to shape solutions to directly address the barriers many experience navigating airports and through air travel.

“I look forward to seeing these standards refined as we work to make it easier for people with disability to access public air transport, by improving accessibility and ease of travel.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Jenny MacAllister:

“Australians with disability have made a terrific contribution here. Now there are real options for the community to consider.

“If you have lived experience to share about the barriers you face when travelling, or want to advocate for someone who has, then make sure to read the consultation paper and have your say.”