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New assistance duties on Airports assisting passengers with reduced mobilty

26 July 2008

From 26th July 2008, the final phase of a European directive has been introduced to ensure greater help for disabled passengers at all European airports.

All european airports must provide appropriate help for disabled passengers from arrival through to check-in and boarding.

Under the new Equality and Human Rights Commission guidelines, airports will also have to provide facilities for disabled passengers to disembark planes after landing.

A "right to assistance" will also be granted to passengers with broken legs or reduced mobility due to factors other than disability.

All airline operators must also have undertaken appropriate disability awareness training.

The first part of this legislation came into effect from 26th July 2007, when it became illegal for airlines to refuse a booking from disabled passengers flying within Europe because of their disability.

Now disabled people have a right to full access onto and off planes. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which will be responsible for enforcing the regulations.