Air passengers to pay more

Air travellers will pay 50p more per journey under a European Union proposal to increase disabled passenger access at airports.

The European parliament will have its first reading of the proposal in Brussels next Tuesday. If accepted, the EU’s 25 member states will have 24 months to comply.

Air travel is currently exempt from the UK’s Disability Discriminaton Act.

However, Ryanair was forced to compensate a passenger who had to pay for wheelchair access at Stansted and subsequently introduced a 35p wheelchair levy on tickets.

London MEP Robert Evans said the regulation will “sharpen up some of the worst of the low-cost airlines and create a better travel experience for people with disabilities”.

Airports will become responsible for providing assistance to disabled passengers at airports including offering wheelchairs, buggies, ramps and lifts.

“About 30 million Brits travel by air every year, so we estimate an extra cost of 50p per passenger will help to cover works needed,” Evans said.

“This cost will likely get passed on to airlines who will pass this to passengers on the price of tickets.”

A spokesman for airports authority BAA confirmed it would pass additional charges on to airlines. ABTA aviation committee chairwoman Doreen McKenzie said the move would encourage more people to travel.