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A USA TODAY feature has drawn attention to a longstanding accessibility gap in air travel: gate and in-flight announcements delivered only through audio, which leave travelers with hearing loss without access to critical information. Missed announcements can include gate changes, boarding calls, delays, diversions, and safety instructions during emergencies.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 30 million people age 12 and older in the United States have some degree of hearing loss in both ears, meaning audio-only information at airports and on aircraft potentially affects millions of travelers. One traveler interviewed described repeatedly disclosing that she is Deaf when booking flights, only to find the information never reached gate agents or flight attendants, resulting in missed announcements, meals, and service. She also noted that in-flight entertainment frequently lacks closed captions.
The Air Carrier Access Act mandates U.S. airlines to ensure that deaf and hard of hearing passengers have access to the same information provided to other passengers, though passengers generally must self-identify to airline staff to receive accommodations. Travelers who experience accessibility problems can report them to the airline and to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which in August 2025 modernized its complaint reporting system to make submitting accessibility complaints online easier. Airlines are typically required to respond within 30 days.
Read the feature here.
