Aviation Disability Standards Consultation: Have Your Say on Accessible Air Travel

For many people with cerebral palsy, air travel can open doors to work, education, sport, advocacy, holidays and connecting with family and friends.

When travelling by air is accessible and inclusive, it creates opportunities and greater independence. But when barriers exist, something as simple as booking a flight or getting through an airport can become stressful, difficult or even impossible.

That's why Cerebral Palsy Australia (CPA) has been involved in efforts to improve accessibility in Australian aviation.

Bringing the voice of the CP community to the table

In 2025, CPA nominated a representative to participate in the Australian Government's co-design workshops for new Aviation Disability Standards.

CPA also sought input from members of our Advisory Panel so that our representative could draw on a broad range of perspectives from people with cerebral palsy and their families. The experiences, challenges and priorities shared during this process helped ensure the voice of the CP community was heard as options for improving air travel accessibility were developed.

Public consultation is now open

The Australian Government has now released a consultation paper outlining proposed options for new Aviation Disability Standards and is seeking feedback from the community.

The proposed standards are intended to address barriers to air travel, affirm the rights of people with disability and provide greater clarity around the responsibilities of airlines and airports.

The release of the consultation paper is the next stage of the co-design process. Building on the experiences, insights and ideas shared throughout co-design, the Government is now seeking feedback on the proposed options.

The consultation paper invites feedback on the proposed approaches, including whether the issues identified should be addressed through regulatory or non-regulatory measures, whether the proposed options would achieve their intended outcomes, and whether there are other approaches that should be considered.

Why your feedback matters

For many people with cerebral palsy, accessible air travel can create opportunities to work, study, compete in sport, advocate, travel independently and connect with family and friends.

The consultation paper sets out a range of proposed approaches to improving accessibility across the aviation journey. The Government is now seeking feedback on those proposals, including whether they would achieve their intended outcomes and whether they are the best way to improve accessibility and protect the rights of people with disability.

If you participated in earlier discussions, you do not need to retell your experiences. Instead, this is an opportunity to review the proposed options and share your views on whether they are the right solutions and whether they will make a meaningful difference for people with disability and their families.

How to get involved

Before providing feedback, we encourage you to review the consultation paper and supporting fact sheets. https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/aviation-disability-standards-consultation-paper

These resources explain the proposed options and the reasons they are being considered. Accessible versions of the consultation materials are available through the Department's consultation website.

You can get involved by:
•    Attending an online information session 3 September 2026, starting at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM (AEST) to learn more about the proposed options. You can register here. 
•    completing the online survey
•    making a written submission
•    providing feedback by email
•    submitting an audio or video response
•    providing feedback by phone.

The consultation is open until 11:59 pm (AEST) on Friday 2 October 2026.

You can get details about all the ways to get involved on the Aviation disability standards consultation paper | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts website