Euro-MP welcomes better disabled passenger rights

9.25.03am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 18th Oct 2005

The European Parliament's Transport committee is demanding that the rights of disabled passengers to access air flights be strengthened through tougher EU laws.

This comes in the wake of cases where passengers with reduced mobility or other disabilities have faced discrimination, in particular two high-profile incidents involving budget airline Ryanair. Mr Bob Ross was forced to pay £18 to hire a wheelchair, and later won over £1000 compensation when both the airline and Stansted airport were found at fault. Now a group of partially-sighted holiday makers has been banned from flying as Ryanair said its safety policy allows no more than 4 disabled passengers per flight.

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"As it becomes easier for people to move freely within the EU for work or leisure, disabled people should not be denied the same opportunity to travel."

"The behaviour of Ryanair and Stansted has been shameful. This proposed new EU law, making airlines and airports responsible for providing assistance to disabled passengers, will hopefully make such cases a thing of the past."

The European Parliament has "co-decision" on this issue, which means equal decision-making powers with EU governments represented in the Council of Ministers. After the report from Transport Committee is adopted by the full Parliament, there will be a process of negotiation with the Council.

Under the new proposals, airport authorities will bear the primary responsibility for:

• ensuring that disabled passengers receive free assistance from arrival to departure

-imposing a levy on all airlines using the airport to fund the cost

• requiring that airports and aircraft are designed and built in consultation with organizations representing disabled people

• designating points of arrival and departure at terminal buildings where disabled people can request assistance

• preventing airlines from banning disabled passengers unless justified by European safety criteria, to which disabilities organizations will input