Data published by the US Department of Transportation shows that disability complaints more than doubled in the month of November 2015 compared to the previous year.
The report for the month September 2015 already showed the sharpest rise ever in disability-related complaints, with 115 complaints logged versus 60 the previous September. Data for the month of November 2015 demonstrates further decline, with 96 complaints versus 45 in November 2014.
In the first nine months of 2015, the total number of enplaned passengers in the US grew by 15%, from 399m to 461m. However, disability-related complaints grew at a much faster pace. American Airlines was the top offender in the US in November 2015 with 20 complaints, followed by Southwest with ten and United Airlines with ten.
In the same month, Air Canada was deemed the worst offender among foreign carriers with three disability-related complaints, followed by Turkish Airlines which received two.
“US airlines are struggling to cope with the ever-growing demand for assistance, and compliance with the Air Carrier Access Act is also challenged by abuse and lack of pre-notification," said Reduced Mobility Rights’ Director, Roberto Castiglioni. "Initiatives like the [United PRM] App can have a positive impact in the interim, but a systemic overhaul of the legal framework, processes, and procedures is needed to guarantee safe and dignified assistance in the long term.”
