The European regulation banning air carriers from discriminating against disabled passengers will cause ‘legal chaos’ when it becomes law in July, according to one disability rights organisation.
The United Kingdom’s Disabled Peoples Council claims its introduction will weaken disabled air passengers’ rights unless the Government takes immediate action.
UKDPC parliamentary and campaigns worker Simone Aspis said: “UKDPC welcomes the Government’s consultation on the regulation but we see there may be much legal confusion for disabled air travellers which may even lead to lessening disabled peoples rights as the regulation takes precedence over domestic disability anti-discrimination law.”
Aspis said penalties were too weak for air carriers who refused to provide disability equality training for staff or did not tell passenger about the assistance they were entitled to, such as the provision of information in alternative formats like Braille.
He also said it was unclear whether those without mobility restrictions, such as people with visual or hearing impairments, would have equal legal protection when travelling by air.
The UKDPC, which is an umbrella organization representing 140 organizations of disabled people, wants to see aviation removed from the Disability Discrimination Act’s exclusions and stiffer penalties introduced for air carriers who refuse to assist disabled passengers. It will be submitting its consultation submission during June.
European Community Regulation No. 1107/2006, Concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air, will become enforceable from July 2007.