New Government initiative to provide improved access to disabled travellers

Published on : Thursday, April 5, 2018

A raft of new measures will be considered by the Department for Transport (DfT) to make flying easier for disabled passenger with reduced mobility.

The Government plans of making aviation more accessible for disabled airlines passengers was welcomed. Although the feasibility of one of the proposal of removing seats to allow space for wheelchair which the travellers can occupy throughout the flight was yet to be considered.

The time taken for a passenger to receive assistance boarding and leaving aircraft is one of the key targets to improve and enforce standards.

A furious attack on Heathrow Airport was launched by a security correspondent after the wheelchair went missing after a flight from the Addis Ababa.

He was dependent on wheelchair after being shot in an Al Qaeda gun attack in Saudi Arabia in 2004, he waited 100 minutes to leave from Ethiopian Airlines flight.

Heathrow’s chief executive discussed on improvements with John Holland-Kaye with Mr Gardner.

Gardner stated that Heathrow was prompt on this and have undertaken by summer will bring wheelchairs up the door of the plane as a part of the policy.

He mentioned that DfT’s initiatives  was a step in the right direction which could have been implemented years before.

Aviation minister, Baroness Sugg mentioned that as a part of  their aviation strategy.

There will be more work to understand more about the barriers that currently exist for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities.

There will work with the industry to remove these obstacles.

Further, the DfT might change aircraft design to create a flexible space where it is possible to tether down a wheelchair.

But how  far it will be realistic that the safety officials will permit passengers to bring their own wheelchairs on board.

An airline executive mentioned that the idea that any wheelchair could ever provide the same protection as a certified aircraft was still far-fetched.
The Government is taking steps to improve care for passengers who need special assistance along with an accredited nationwide accessibility training scheme.

Tags: Baroness Sugg, Department for Transport, disabled travellers, heathrow airport, John Holland-Kaye