The Civil Aviation Authority is calling for views on a proposed framework to improve the experiences of disabled and less mobile passengers travelling by air.
The regulator said its framework would rank the performance of airlines based on their service for disabled and less mobile passengers, from booking tickets and assistance at the airport, through to their onboard experience and complaints handling.
Ratings would consider requests for assistance, onboard facilities including seating and toilets, boarding and disembarking.
The framework also sets standards for bringing assistance dogs onto flights, guidance on how airlines should handle mobility equipment and providing compensation when it is lost or damaged.
The CAA said it has “significantly engaged” with disabled people as well as major airlines in drawing up the framework.
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Anna Bowles, CAA head of consumer, said: “Our proposals to introduce this new framework are about holding airlines to account in meeting their obligations to disabled and less mobile passengers across all aspects of their journey.
“Consumers should have confidence that the standard of support they receive when flying will meet their needs.
“Assessing airlines against a standardised framework will ensure that disabled and less mobile passengers will be better informed when they choose which airline to fly with, and will highlight areas where airlines need to do better.”
Josh Wintersgill, founder and director of Able Move – which aims to improve air travel for wheelchair users – said: “This consultation is a great opportunity for people to share their constructive feedback to help influence and shape the framework further.
“Whilst only guidance, it is hoped it would enable the UK CAA to better monitor airline performance and hold airlines to greater public accountability just like UK airports are today, which has shown improvements, but perhaps not at the pace which people expect.”
A similar framework for airports was introduced in 2014, which has prompted the spending of millions of pounds to improve experiences for passengers with reduced mobility.