Overview
- The widely viewed clip, originally posted by a Chinese X user, shows a long line of wheelchair users for an India–US flight at Chicago O’Hare and alleges misuse of priority services.
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw suggested a ₹5,000 charge per airport to deter non-genuine requests, drawing both support and criticism from social media users.
- Media reports citing unnamed sources say India’s aviation regulator DGCA is reviewing the rise in wheelchair requests and possible guidance, with no policy change announced.
- A U.S. federal law, the Air Carrier Access Act, requires airlines to provide wheelchair assistance at no cost, limiting fee-based responses on routes involving the United States.
- Airlines say the service is costly and slows boarding—Frontier’s CEO has estimated about $30–35 per request—while travel analysts note many users are elderly or non‑English‑speaking and suggest verification or group escort options instead of blanket charges.