Traveling in a wheelchair can be fraught with challenges, including inaccessible bathrooms, the risk of injury during boarding, and the potential for damage to expensive and essential equipment. According to the latest data, at least 1.5% of wheelchairs and scooters are mishandled during air travel, translating to tens of thousands of damaged mobility aids over the past five years.

To address this issue, Delta Flight Products and the U.K.-based consortium Air4All have developed a new plane seat design that allows passengers with limited mobility to remain securely in their own powered wheelchairs for the duration of the flight. The innovative seat folds up, revealing a floor latch for a wheelchair to attach to, and still provides access to the headrest and console tray table.

This collaborative effort by PriestmanGoode, Flying Disabled, SWS Certification, and Sunrise Medical aims to provide a safe and comfortable travel experience for people with disabilities. Delta will finalize the design after testing and certification, offering wheelchair users the travel experience they deserve.