DEPARTMENT FOR
TRANSPORT News Release (123) issued by The Government News Network
on 23 July 2008
Transport Minister
Rosie Winterton, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the
Civil Aviation Authority were at London City Airport today to
outline measures coming into force this month giving up to 15
million disabled people and those with limited mobility new rights
when travelling through airports in Europe.
From the 26 July 2008, a new European regulation on air travel
will mean airports will have to provide services that enable
disabled passengers to board, disembark and transit between
flights. The rights will also apply to people with reduced
mobility, such as someone with a broken leg, and will give a right
to assistance once on the plane.
This is the second stage of measures designed to protect disabled
passengers when travelling by air and creating a consistent
standard across Europe. Last year it became illegal for airlines,
travel agents or tour operators to refuse a booking on the grounds
of disability or to refuse to board a disabled person who has a
valid ticket and reservation, except for safety reasons.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has a
responsibility to promote the new regulation to the public and any
person who feels that there has been a breach of the law has the
right to complain to them. The Commission will handle and monitor
complaints and offer conciliation where appropriate. It can
support people to take civil action and could refer the matter to
the Civil Aviation Authority who will have the power to prosecute.
If guilty an airport operator, airline, travel agent or tour
operator could face an unlimited fine.
Rosie Winterton said:
"This is a major step in ensuring that disabled people and
those with reduced mobility have the same access to the standards
and services that every one expects when they fly.
"We expect all airlines and airports to maintain these high
standards and for strong action to be taken against anyone
repeatedly breaking the regulations across Europe."
Baroness Jane Campbell, chair of the EHRC Disability Committee, said:
"Airports have told us this will be the biggest ever single
shake-up in customer service and we believe this new regulation
will bring real improvements for disabled people and those with
reduced mobility.
"It should also be very good for business. Disabled people
alone have a spending power of some £80 billion and people who
previously daren't risk flying for fear of problems, can now
confidently give it a try.
"The Commission has considerable powers to ensure that the
air travel industry meets its obligations and we shall be
monitoring complaints carefully and ensuring these are used to
improve services."
Richard Jackson, Group Director of Consumer Protection at the
Civil Aviation Authority, said:
"The new regulations will bring significant benefits to
disabled travellers and those with reduced mobility. We have
worked closely with UK airlines, airports and tour operators to
ensure that they are fully familiar with the new rules."
Notes to Editors
1. The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body
established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the
responsibilities of the Commission for Racial Equality, Disability
Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission. It is the
independent advocate for equality and human rights in Britain, and
aims to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen
good relations between people, and promote and protect human rights.
2. Regulation (EC) No 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 and means that airports
will now be responsible for providing assistance to disabled
travellers. This will be standard across all European airports.
3. Passengers needing assistance must not be charged, and
airports handling more than 150,000 passengers a year must publish
quality standards so that passengers can measure the service they
receive against these standards. The Regulation requires all staff
providing direct assistance to passengers to be suitably trained,
and disability awareness training will need to be provided to all staff.
4. Airlines themselves must carry passengers' medical
equipment and up to two pieces of mobility equipment free of
charge. They must also carry assistance dogs free of charge (on
permitted routes).
5. For passengers, this will mean continuity of assistance at
airports across the EU. Whereas previously standards may have
differed, they are now set and passengers are entitled to full
assistance regardless of the airport they are travelling from.
Where this is not provided, they are able to take their complaints
to the Commission.
6. The Regulation comes into force in two stages. The first stage
(prohibiting refusal of booking or embarkation) came 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.
7. 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. Airlines will also be required to provide
certain assistance onboard the aircraft.
8. In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority has been designated to
enforce the Regulation. The Equality and Human Rights Commission
has been designated to handle complaints from passengers (along
with the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland).
9. To reflect the new European Regulation, the Department for
Transport has revised its guidance to the UK aviation industry on
how to improve access to air travel for disabled people. This
guidance, known as the Access to Air Travel Code of Practice, has
been published today, to coincide with the Regulation coming into
force, and can be accessed via the DfT's website at http://www.dft.gov.uk
10. Full information is available on the Commission's
website at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/airtravel
11. For further details on the attached case studies, including
contact information, please call Leonard Cheshire Disability on
0203 242 0379. Leonard Cheshire's website can be viewed at http://www.lcdisability.org/
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport
Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk