An open sky for disabled passengers?

Although the first provisions of the EU Regulation on the rights of disabled air passengers enter into force this year and must be completed in all member countries by 26th July 2008, the European Disability Forum warns against the legislation's shortcomings.

"It took us more than three years to obtain this important piece of legislation and I would like to congratulate all those that have actively contributed to make it happen. The European Union has taken an important step forward to advance disability rights in Europe, but we need to continue to work together in order to overcome the current gaps of the Regulation", said Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum.

The overall aim of the Regulation is to guarantee equal treatment for all passengers, including 'any person with reduced mobility or sensory impairment, intellectual disability or any other cause of disability, age, and whose situation needs appropriate attention and the adaptation to his or her particular needs of the service made available to all passengers'.

The European Disability Forum, the umbrella organisation representing the interests of 50 million disabled people in the European Union that has lobbied the European Union in favour of the Regulation; agrees that there is still room for improvement:

"We are worried that the exceptions established in Article 4 will be used to continue discriminating disabled air passengers. If we want the Regulation to be effective, the safety reasons that allow to deny the boarding of a disabled person need to be clarified", said Vardakastanis.

According to the Regulation, an airline can still refuse the boarding of a disabled passenger due to 'Safety reasons established by national, Community or International law'. "We need the European Union to clearly define these exceptions and to agree on common safety reasons across Europe. Otherwise, a disabled passenger might be allowed to travel to a Member State applying certain rules, but not to come back!” stressed the EDF President.

The EDF campaign on air passengers' rights will therefore target the adoption of common safety rules in Europe, as well as the wide dissemination of the provisions of the law. The EDF will also concentrate its efforts to improve the Regulation, as well as to obtain similar legislation for all forms of transport.

The EDF President said:  "Disabled people have new rights and they must apply them. It is important to inform them and to encourage them to complain if these rights are violated anywhere in Europe. This will ensure better quality for all passengers, with and without disabilities".

For more information, please visit EDF webpage:
http://www.edf-feph.org/en/policy/transport/trans_pol.htm

Addendum

Since the production of this article, a report published by disability charity Leonard Cheshire, has shown that more than a third (37 per cent) of disabled respondents experienced negative attitudes from staff on board flights and at airports.

The report, entitled “Now Boarding”, also reported that:

o A quarter of respondents had problems booking their flight.
o 11 per cent had to cancel or delay a trip because of problems accessing a flight.
o Over half (58 per cent) of respondents believed that air travel is getting better.

The “Now Boarding” report is available in PDF format on the following link: http://www.leonard-cheshire.org/?lid=5070 or by contacting Annette Laidler, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Tel: 0207 8028204 or emailing: Annette.laidler@LCDisability.org

In related news, Birmingham International Airport (BIA) announced this October that it had invested £1.3 million on making improvements to its special assistance operation, ahead of new EU Legislation.
The Airport has invested in new special assistance areas in both Terminals 1 and 2 and has purchased new equipment to assist disabled travellers and people with reduced mobility. New help points are also now available in the car parks, the transport Interchange at Birmingham International rail station and throughout both Terminals.

There are also more dedicated members of special assistance staff on-site during operational hours and special vibrating pagers are available to notify passengers when their escort is ready to collect them from the departure lounge special assistance area in case they are elsewhere in the lounge.

Joe Kelly, BIA’s Acting Managing Director said,

“Our latest investment will improve the level of service for people with disabilities; whether it is a physical, sensory or intellectual impairment. The Airport has received expert help to prepare specifications in accordance with the new EU requirements from the Disabled People’s Network to ensure that any changes provide benefit to our passengers.”

Daniel Park

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