From disability to accessibility: airlines to improve travel for passengers with access needs

From disability to accessibility: airlines to improve travel for passengers with access needs

Seoul

 

Image: airport, crowded hall, people standing in lines, info tables with signs of disabled passengers

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit are being hosted by Korean Air in Seoul, 1-3 June with some 1,000 aviation leaders and media participating. As the result of the event, IATA announced that five resolutions have been taken, regarding Environment, Slots, RFID for Baggage Tracking, One ID and Disabled Passengers.  

The AGM resolution aims to improve the air travel experience for the estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide.  “Airlines committed to ensuring that passengers with disabilities have access to safe, reliable and dignified travel, and called upon governments to use IATA’s core principles for accommodating passengers with disabilities. These principles aim to change the focus from disability to accessibility and inclusion by bringing the travel sector together with governments to harmonize regulations and provide the clarity and global consistency that passengers expect” – the IATA statement said. 

 

IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 290 airlines comprising 82% of global air traffic.


“Airlines were ahead of their time when, 50 years ago, we set out standards to ensure passengers with disabilities had access to air travel. But now we need to go further. The numbers of persons with disabilities travelling by air are set to increase significantly as populations expand and grow older. We applaud the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. With today’s resolution the industry is committed to ensure that passengers living with disability can travel safely and with dignity,” said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.   


The resolution requests that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) apply IATA’s core principles as the basis for its multilateral initiatives on accessibility for passengers with disabilities. This work is vital to help harmonize national legislation and regulations which otherwise could create a patchwork of confusing or even contradictory requirements for passengers and airlines.

 

Image: airport employee and a woman in a wheelchair printong boarding pass


An IATA survey of 48 airlines reported that the requests for wheelchair assistance grew 30% between 2016 and 2017, putting strain onto the quality of the service provided. Airlines and airports are working together to ensure that wheelchair assistance is available to those who need it. In parallel, they are also working to develop other forms of assistance for passengers who are mobile but do not feel comfortable navigating through a large airport.

For passengers with disabilities who travel with their own mobility aids, damage when stowed is a major concern. Airlines are working with associations of passengers with disabilities, airports, ground handlers, and regulators, to look at ways to improve this. One option under consideration is to develop standard procedures related to the loading of passengers’ mobility aids.

 

“We know that many passengers with disabilities rely absolutely on their mobility aids and we recognize that any damage to them can be a serious, even traumatic, issue. Our aim is to ensure that passengers with disabilities can travel with peace of mind knowing that their mobility aids will arrive undamaged and fit for use,” said- de Juniac.


A full text of the resolution is available on the IATA website.