Infrastructure Australia are seeking feedback on policy options for the aviation disability standards, which will help address air travel barriers faced by people with disability. Your feedback on the consultation paper will help us make sure the new standards address barriers to air travel and are fit for purpose.
Review the consultation paper and tell us what you think by making a submission. Supporting documents and alternative ways to have your say are provided below.
Your submission will inform the development of new aviation disability standards.
The issue
Equitable access to air travel is important for people with disability to connect with their community and access essential services and support. However, people with disability continue to face barriers when travelling by air, including inaccessible facilities and services at airports, and airline practices and systems that do not meet their needs.
These barriers can occur across the whole passenger journey—from booking a flight, to checking in at the airport, travelling on the aircraft and disembarking at the destination. While air travel has unique safety, security and operational requirements, airlines and airports must also make sure they do not discriminate in the services they provide.
TheDisability Discrimination Act 1992 aims to eliminate, as far as possible, discrimination on the basis of disability. The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) set out the responsibilities of public transport providers and operators, including airlines and airports. Despite this existing framework, people with disability have made it clear that barriers to accessible air travel remain.
In the 2024 Aviation White Paper: Towards 2050, the Australian Government committed to co-design new aviation disability standards. These standards would affirm the rights of people with disability during air travel and clarify the obligations of airlines and airports to provide equal access.
Co-designing solutions
To guide the development of the new standards, the department established an Aviation Accessibility Steering Committee with members from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, People with Disability Australia, the Justice and Equity Centre and relevant Australian Government departments.
In 2025, the department and the Steering Committee held 3 co-design workshops with people with disability. Participants identified barriers across the air travel journey and developed possible solutions. These co-designed solutions, together with input from organisations representing people with disability and subject matter experts from the aviation sector, informed the options presented in the consultation paper.
The consultation paper sets out proposed solutions across 4 stages of the journey:
- whole of journey
- booking and planning
- at the airport
- on the aircraft.
These proposals include options for new regulations, best-practice (non-regulatory) guidance, and in some cases maintaining current arrangements (where other legal frameworks already apply or are expected to apply soon).
We are seeking feedback on the proposed policy options, including which approaches are preferred and any information that may help with implementation. This feedback will also inform the impact analysis needed to finalise the aviation disability standards.
Further information regarding the development of the aviation disability standards can be found at: www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation-accessibility.
Relevant documentation
The department has developed the supporting documents and resources below to help you participate in the consultation process.
Aviation disability standards—Consultation paper
- Aviation disability standards—Consultation paper [PDF, Word version and Braille Ready Format]
Fact sheets
Fact Sheets [Auslan, PDF and Word versions, Easy Read and Braille Ready Format]:
- Fact sheet—How we got here—the journey to new aviation disability standards
- Fact sheet—1. Whole of journey—options for new disability standards
- Fact sheet—2. Planning and booking air travel—options for new disability standards
- Fact sheet—3. At the airport—options for new disability standards
- Fact sheet—4. On the aircraft—options for new disability standards
Consultation question survey [online and Word versions]
This survey is an alternative to making a submission and guides you through the consultation paper with a summary of each issue, regulatory options, and consultation questions. If you choose to complete the survey, you do not need to also make a submission through this page.
More information
Hard copy versions and other translations of the fact sheets are available upon written request to AviationAccessibility@infrastructure.gov.au or by phoning 1800 621 372, Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm AEST (except public holidays).
Please note that Braille Ready Format (BRF) files may require compatible technology, such as a refreshable Braille display to access.
Further information regarding the development of the aviation disability standards can be found at: www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation-accessibility.
Online information sessions
During the consultation period the department will host 3 online information sessions for anyone interested in making a submission through the aviation disability standards consultation process.
At the information sessions we will explain how the standards are being developed and outline the proposed options. There will also be opportunity to ask questions about the consultation paper before preparing your submission.
The virtual sessions will be run by The Social Deck (TSD). TSD will make sure the sessions are accessible for everyone. You can let them know about any accessibility needs at registration.
A recording of session #1 will be available on this page for anyone who cannot attend an online session.
Session details and registration links
Session 1—Open to all
Thursday 3 September, 9:30am to 11:00am AEST
Register with The Social Deck at https://events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-the-new-aviation-disability-standards-public
Session 2—Open to organisations that represent and support people with disability
Tuesday 8 September 2026, 10:00am to 11:30am AEST
Register with The Social Deck at https://events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-the-new-aviation-disability-standards-disability-representative-organisations
Session 3—Open to aviation industry, e.g. airports and airlines
Friday 11 September 2026, 2:30pm to 4:00pm AEST
Register with The Social Deck at https://events.humanitix.com/webinar-on-the-new-aviation-disability-standards-industry
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Tags: at the airport, Aviation Accessibility Steering Committee, Aviation disability standards consultation, booking and planning, on the aircraft, people with disability continue to face barriers when travelling by air, whole of journey
