Saying that American Airlines mistreated disabled air travelers who use wheelchairs, the U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday announced a $50m fine against the carrier. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the agency’s penalty the highest ever levied against an airline for violating protections for fliers with disabilities. The Transportation Department said that its investigation, which included reviewing complaints filed against American between 2019 and 2023, revealed “cases of unsafe physical assistance that at times resulted in injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users, in addition to repeated failures to provide prompt wheelchair assistance.” In their complaints, passengers reported being roughly handled, even dropped on the ground, and their wheelchairs, which can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars, being damaged beyond repair. At Miami International Airport, a ramp agent reportedly dropped a wheelchair down a baggage ramp, which then ricocheted onto the tarmac. At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, American employees dropped a passenger on the floor while transferring her from an aisle chair to her seat on the plane. Another traveler, flying from Portland to Dallas, said that his personal power wheelchair was so damaged during transit that he had to use a broken wheelchair for a month while he awaited a replacement.<br/>
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Qantas has begun to roll out the digital Incoming Passenger Card alternative on some flights from Auckland to Brisbane. The pilot program announced in August sees eligible Qantas customers able to access and fill out the Australia Digital Travel Declaration (ATD) through the Qantas app up to 72 hours prior to departure, removing the need for the physical Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). The ATD is initially available on QF126 services from Auckland to Brisbane, and will be expanded to other NZ-Brisbane routes over coming days with more Australian cities expected to join the trial early next year. Qantas has also flagged other international destinations in coming months. “The paperless declaration means no more trying to find a pen and your flight details midway through your flight. Passengers will have three days to fill out the digital form at a time and place that suits them,” said Qantas chief customer and digital officer Catriona Larritt. “We’re excited to be partnering with the Federal Government to make flying into Australia that little bit easier for millions of tourists and Australians each year. This is the latest addition to the Qantas App and adds to the inbound flight tracker, baggage tracking, passport scanning, and ‘click to call’ features we’ve recently added.”<br/>