Travelling By Air Just Got Easier For Disabled And Reduced Mobility Passengers
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Travelling by air just got easier for Northern Ireland passengers with a disability or reduced mobility said the Consumer Council as it launched ‘Access to Air Travel’, a guide that informs passengers of the type and level of assistance they are entitled to at the airport. The Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy MP, MLA launched the guide at George Best Belfast City Airport today (30 June 2009).
Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy, MP, MLA helps the Consumer Council launch their 'Access to Air Travel' guide. He is pictured with Donna Magee, Interim Chief Executive of the Consumer Council and air passenger Ann Collins.
EU law[1] now means passengers with a disability or reduced mobility have improved rights at all EU airports. They are entitled to assistance throughout their journey, from booking their flight, check in, boarding and leaving their destination airport. Aodhan O’Donnell, Head of Transport at the Consumer Council said: “Over 8 million passengers[2] travel through our local airports each year. Many of these passengers have a disability or reduced mobility due to age, illness or temporary injury such as a broken leg. Our Access to Air Travel guide aims to raise awareness among passengers and help them get the assistance they are entitled to.
“The Consumer Council has been given the responsibility to promote this service in Northern Ireland, deal with enquiries and handle passenger complaints by the Department of Transport. We welcome the support by our local Executive Minister Conor Murphy in launching the guide today and look forward to working with him and the Department for Regional Development to promote this legislation in the future. The Consumer Council has also been working with all three airports here to ensure changes are made and would like to commend them for all their hard work undertaken to date. The airports have engaged with passenger groups, improved facilities and undertaken staff training.
“The current uptake of this service by disabled and reduced mobility passengers in Northern Ireland is low[3]. When a similar initiative was launched in England, enquires about assistance soared by 335%[4], we want to see more passengers here who are entitled to the assistance make use of it. Passengers who feel they could benefit from assistance at the airport can get a free copy of Access to Air Travel by contacting the Consumer Council on 0800 121 6022.”
- Consumer Council media contact: Gráinne Duffy, telephone, 028 9067 4813 or e-mail, gduffy@consumercouncil.org.uk.
- The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
- For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 ‘Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility’.
[2]8,231,891 journeys were made in and out of Northern Ireland airports in 2008, 4,123,808 departing and 4,108,083 arriving. (Source: Civil Aviation Authority, CAA).
[3] Approximately 35,000 passengers have used this service at Northern Ireland airports since the Regulation was fully introduced. (Source: Belfast International Airport, George Best Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport).
[4] Figures provided by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on 04/03/09.
Related Documents
- Access to Air Travel - 2.3MB PDF Document
