The government has set up an expert group to “break down barriers” to air travel for disabled passengers.
The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group will be chaired by Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and include representatives of disability groups, airlines and airports.
Its members will include presenter and disability campaigner Sophie Morgan, co-founder of disability group Rights on Flights and producer of the recent Channel 4 documentary ‘Fight to Fly’ which highlighted the treatment disabled passengers can face.
In a statement announcing the group’s formation, the Department for Transport (DfT) said: “This is a major signal for disabled passengers that the transport secretary is determined to see industry reform its ways and improve accessibility standards.”
Transport secretary Louise Haigh announced the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group in a speech at Manchester Airport, saying: “Everyone has the right to travel with dignity.
“It is vital we ensure that flying is an accessible, safe and enjoyable experience for all.”
Haigh noted: “For too long, disabled passengers haven’t had the standard of assistance and service they need. That is why we’re bringing together this expert taskforce to drive change. This group will help break down barriers and deliver lasting and meaningful improvements.”
The group is due to meet for the first time later this month to look at how to tackle the biggest barriers to air travel for disabled passengers and the issues which impact their experience and dignity.
Problems include wheelchairs being poorly handled, lack of access to toilet facilities, limited access to information, and people being left onboard aircraft without timely assistance.
The DfT noted that “while the industry has made improvements to ensure passengers are treated fairly and with dignity, reports of damaged wheelchairs, poor service and lack of awareness are sadly still occurring”.
The group is tasked with agreeing ‘achievable’ short and long-term actions for the industry to take which “lead to real improvements for disabled passengers”.
Its members will include representatives of Jet2, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair, assistance providers, Abta, and Manchester, Stansted, East Midlands and Glasgow airports.
The group is due to deliver a series of recommendations to the transport secretary next year.
Grey-Thompson said: “I’m looking forward to working with disabled people, industry experts and the DfT to improve access to flying. It is essential that the rights of each passenger are protected so they can travel with the respect they deserve.”
Morgan hailed “an important milestone in the ongoing fight” for rights on flights, saying: “For far too long disabled people have suffered when flying.
“By establishing the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group the government has sent a powerful message to the community and airline industry that change is in the air.”
Ken O’Toole, chief executive of Manchester Airports Group which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, said: “We work hard to ensure our airports are accessible and safe for every passenger, regardless of their needs [and] we welcome today’s announcement establishing the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group.”
Steve Wilson, assisted travel manager at Jet2, said: “We strongly believe that the best way for the industry to continually improve is through meaningful collaboration, so we warmly welcome the creation of this group and we look forward to the positive outcomes that it will create.”
Mark Tanzer, chief Executive of Abta, said: “We want everyone to be able to experience the joys of travel, but we know disabled passengers are sometimes let down getting the assistance and support that’s required. We’re pleased to see the government looking at these issues. We have already been discussing these challenges with officials and look forward to contributing to the new group.”