The Civil Aviation (Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility) Regulations 2014 recently came into effect, giving the Civil Aviation Authority the power to ensure both airlines and airports comply with European regulations to provide special assistance to passengers with a disability or reduced mobility. This includes help when travelling through an airport, boarding or disembarking an aircraft, as well as help during a flight.
The ultimate sanction for businesses which persistently fail to comply is an Enforcement Order, which could result in prosecution, but the CAA said it expects that the majority of problems will be resolved without court action.
It added that it has been working with major airlines and airports since August to improve the quality of special assistance information available on their websites.
Following an industry-wide consultation, 50 airlines and all UK airports were asked to make sure this information was more comprehensive, clearer to understand and displayed just one click away from their website's homepage.
They were also asked to include a helpline number, so passengers are able to pre-arrange special assistance and have information on how to complain.
The CAA's director of regulatory policy Iain Osborne, added: "In using these new powers we aim to ensure the passenger experience for disabled people and people with a reduced mobility is further improved and enhanced. Good and easily accessible information relating to special assistance is essential for passengers with reduced mobility."
