New charter will aim to improve conditions for disabled air travellers

IMPROVING CONDITIONS for disabled airline passengers is a key focus of a proposed new charter for airlines and airports.

The document includes commitments to raise wheelchair storage standards, ensure better training for staff and boost awareness among disabled passengers of their rights. The charter is one of the proposals outlined by aviation minister Liz Sugg from the Government’s upcoming aviation strategy consultation.

Service level standards for all passengers for how complaints and compensation claims are resolved are also included in the document, which was agreed by the aviation industry and the Government. In July, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned that the treatment of disabled passengers by four of the UK’s seven busiest airports was unacceptable. Manchester received a “poor” accessibility rating, while London Gatwick, London Stansted and Birmingham were told they “need improvement”.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport was the only Yorkshire airport to receive a “very good” rating.

Some passengers on incoming flights at Manchester were left waiting on planes for more than an hour before assistance arrived, the research found.

BBC journalist Frank Gardner, who is a wheelchair user, was left stranded on a plane twice in six months earlier this year.

Ms Sugg said: “Our fantastic aviation industry connects passengers to destinations across the world with some of the best fares available. But we are determined to work with industry to continue to drive up service levels and the new passenger charter aims to improve the experience of all passengers when they fly.”

The charter will be proposed as part of the Government’s aviation strategy consultation which launches later this month.

In 2016, the CAA published guidelines to help passengers with “hidden disabilities” get better support at airports.