For law to succeed airports must listen to disabled travellers
27 July 2009
Leonard Cheshire Disability says many airports do not meet the needs of disabled passengers one year on, despite EU law.
Since the release of the Leonard Cheshire Disability Now Boarding Survey in 2007 the charity has found disabled travellers are still being discriminated against because of a lack of training for air travel staff on how to provide an accessible service.
The law makes it the responsibility of the airport, whereas previously it was down to the individual airlines, to provide assistance to disabled travellers from arrival at the airport to check in, through departure and boarding.
Katie Turner, Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Senior Campaigns Officer for National Campaigns, said: “The air travel industry must engage directly with their disabled customers in order to ensure they meet their needs. Airports must ensure that all staff are properly trained and equipped to work with disabled passengers and take the time to listen to and understand their assistance needs.”
Amar Latif is the founder and director of Traveleyes, the first commercial tour operator to specialise in holidays for visually impaired and sighted UK-based travellers.
He said: “There are more than 10 million disabled people in the UK and many more with mobility difficulties. We are a group of people whose needs simply cannot be ignored. It is known that around two and a half million of those travel on a regular basis.
“I believe that a more positive approach by airports is needed to overcome the fear, prejudice and misconception disabled passengers face. The industry has to listen and engage with disabled travellers and learn from their experiences in order to comply with the law and make our journeys more pleasurable.”
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Media enquiries
Contact Pete Lewis at the Leonard Cheshire Disability Press Office on 020 3242 0265 or email
pete.lewis@LCDisability.org
or
Laura Emmerson at the Leonard Cheshire Disability Press Office on 020 3242 0389 or email
laura.emmerson@LCDisabilty.org or press office mobile 07903 949388
Editors Notes
The new EC regulation on 26 July 2008 was the second part of the Regulation on Disabled Persons and Persons of Reduced Mobility. The first part came into effect in July 2007 which made it illegal for anyone to unreasonably deny access to the boarding of a plane due to a disability.
Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Now Boarding Report (2006) set out the experiences of disabled travellers at airports and onboard aircraft.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is responsible for handling passenger complaints. It can offer conciliation and support to people to take civil action or even take matters to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA will enforce the regulation and have the power to prosecute.
Now Boarding is available to download at
www.LCDisability.org
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK and works in 52 countries. We campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way. Visit
www.LCDisability.org
