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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Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk