DOT appoints All Wheels Up founder Michele Erwin to ACAA advisory committee

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy appointed All Wheels Up founder and President Michele Erwin to the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee, which advises the department on barriers facing passengers with disabilities. The move comes as All Wheels Up gains wider recognition for its work on accessible air travel and policy change.

Why it matters: - Michele Erwin will help advise the U.S. Department of Transportation on air travel barriers faced by passengers with disabilities. - The appointment adds a disability-access advocate to a committee that can shape improvements in airline safety, access and travel experience. - All Wheels Up said the recognition strengthens its push for wheelchair accessibility on commercial aircraft.

What happened: - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy appointed All Wheels Up founder and President Michele Erwin to the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee. - All Wheels Up announced the appointment on June 11, 2026. - The announcement came as All Wheels Up was also included on the Forbes 2026 Accessibility 200 List.

The details: - The Department of Transportation created the ACAA Advisory Committee in September 2019. - The committee advises the secretary of transportation on issues affecting passengers with disabilities. - Its work includes assessing access barriers, reviewing how well DOT programs address those barriers and identifying improvements to the air travel experience. - Erwin said the role is about improving safety, dignity and access in air travel for people with disabilities. - Stephen Cullen, All Wheels Up board chair and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, said Erwin’s appointment reflects years of research, early crash testing of wheelchairs and restraint systems, and sustained advocacy for legislative, regulatory and training standards. - Cullen said All Wheels Up is continuing to work with federal leaders, airlines and manufacturers to remove barriers and expand access for wheelchair users and other travelers. - Erwin said the appointment reflects more than 15 years of work, including the first crash testing of wheelchairs and wheelchair restraint systems against FAA emergency landing crash test criteria. - Erwin also said the recognition validates work on research, policy and legislative solutions for accessible air travel.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals that federal officials are giving more weight to lived-experience expertise in airline accessibility policy. - All Wheels Up’s inclusion in the Forbes accessibility list and Erwin’s committee seat suggest the organization is moving from advocacy on the margins to broader institutional recognition. - The timing also underscores how disability access in aviation remains an active policy and industry issue, not a settled one.

What’s next: - Erwin will serve on the advisory committee as the DOT continues evaluating barriers and possible improvements for passengers with disabilities. - All Wheels Up said it will keep advancing research, advocacy and policy efforts aimed at truly accessible air travel. - The organization is also offering Complaints Resolution Official training for airline employees. - All Wheels Up will hold its Global Forum on Sept. 29-30 at Hotel Polaris Colorado Springs in Colorado Springs, Colorado. - The forum is intended to bring together aviation stakeholders to accelerate accessibility in air travel. - More information is available here.

The bottom line: - Erwin’s appointment gives a long-time accessible-air-travel advocate a formal role in shaping federal disability-access policy for airlines.