A NEW guide to make air travel smoother for disabled passengers is now available.
The leaflet describes what services disabled people can expect from airlines, travel companies and airports, and what facilities they are legally obliged to provide.
Broadcaster and former Paralympic Athlete Ade Adepitan said: “I’ve had some real nightmare journeys in the past as well as trouble free flights.
“Sometimes people just don’t think carefully enough about taking a common sense approach to making people’s journey as smooth as possible. This guide will be really useful to help disabled people, their friends and families.”
Lord Chris Holmes, Disability Commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said: “Dignity and respect are values we all share, yet too many disabled travellers experience the opposite.
“Passengers and travel companies all want to make the experience of flying as enjoyable and trouble free as possible. Our new guidance should make journeys as smooth as possible – from the outset when booking flights or holidays all the way through to returning home.
“The tips it contains for travellers on what they should think about, as well as guidance for companies on what they need to provide, should help disabled flyers and their families have a trouble free flight. Avoiding things going wrong is good for disabled people and good for the travel industry.”
Robert Goodwill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, said: “This is good news for people with disabilities and reduced mobility – they should be able to travel with confidence, knowing help will be on hand should they need it. I am pleased that the UK is a world leader in breaking down barriers to provide access to air travel for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility.”
The guide has been developed with the Civil Aviation Authority and endorsed by the Department for Transport and travel organisations, and is available from airports, travel companies and disability organisations.
It can also be downloaded by clicking here
