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Aviation becomes accessible to all

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT News Release (077) issued by The Government News Network on 5 July 2007

Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick today outlined measures coming in later this month to give disabled people new rights when travelling by air in Europe.

From 26 July 2007 it will be illegal for an airline, travel agent or tour operator to refuse a booking on the grounds of disability or to refuse to embark a disabled person who has a valid ticket and reservation.

The law also covers persons with reduced mobility, including people who would not normally be classed as disabled, such as those with a temporary mobility problem.

The new rules will mean that anyone who has been refused boarding on the grounds of disability or reduced mobility will be able to complain to the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). The Commission will advise them on their rights and could refer the matter to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which will have power to prosecute. If found guilty, an airline could face an unlimited fine.

Mr Fitzpatrick said:

"The new measure coming into force later this month is only the first step in ensuring that disabled people and those with reduced mobility have the same access to air travel as others.

"The second stage, which will come into force next year, will bring further significant benefits to disabled travellers. When all these measures are in place disabled passengers will be assured that they can expect a consistent and seamless level of service from airports and airlines."

Notes to Editors

1. EC Regulation 1107/2006 imposes new legal obligations on airport operators, air carriers, their agents or tour operators. The Regulation was largely progressed under the UK's Presidency of the European Union in 2005.

2. The Regulation comes into force in two stages. The first stage (prohibiting refusal of booking or embarkation) comes into force on 26 July 2007. In very occasional circumstances these rights may not apply - for example, where there are legitimate safety or technical reasons why a disabled person cannot board an aircraft. The rest of the Regulation will apply from 26 July 2008. From this date, airport managing bodies will be required to organise the provision of the services necessary to enable disabled/reduced mobility passengers to board, disembark and transit between flights, with costs recovered through a charge on airlines proportionate to the total number of passengers they carry to and from the airport.

3. The two stage approach gives the industry time to make changes to contractual arrangements for provision of ground-handling assistance.

4. In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority has been designated to enforce the Regulation. The Disability Rights Commission has been designated to handle complaints from passengers (along with the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland).

5. The Government has worked with the UK aviation industry to produce a voluntary code of practice (published in 2003) which aims to improve access to air travel for disabled people. We intend to revise this code by 2008 to reflect the new European Regulation and ensure the spread of good practice.

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