Thank you for contacting me about accessible and inclusive air travel.
Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are legally entitled to support, commonly known as ‘special assistance’, when travelling by air.
Special assistance is available to passengers who may need help to travel such as the elderly, those people with a physical disability, such as wheelchair users, and those who have difficulty with social interaction and communication, such as those with autism or dementia.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as the aviation regulator, wrote to airlines and airports in June 2022 to ensure industry is reaching standards expected for providing disabled and less mobile passengers with the assistance they require. The CAA has also published additional guidance to airports on providing assistance services. The CAA continues to monitor airport performance on delivering special assistance and publishes its findings annually.
The Department for Transport consulted in 2022 as to whether the CAA should have additional powers to enforce consumer laws and the provision of compensation in the event of wheelchairs being damaged on domestic flights. Ministers are reviewing responses and will set out next steps shortly.
Further, the Department for Transport published the Aviation Passenger Charter in July 2022. The Charter provides consumers with the information they need on their rights and responsibilities for each element of their journey.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.