New rights for disabled travellers in Europe

Disabled travellers will soon be given new rights when travelling through airports in Europe.

Transport minister Rosie Winterton, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Civil Aviation Authority visited London City Airport today (July 23rd), to outline the measures.

From July 26th, a new piece of air travel regulation will require EU airports to provide services enabling disabled passengers to board, disembark and move between flights.

The initiative, which is set to benefit some 15 million people, will also apply to travellers with reduced mobility, such as someone with a broken leg.

Ms Winterton said: "This is a major step in ensuring that disabled people and those with reduced mobility have the same access to the standards and services that everyone expects when they fly.

"We expect all airlines and airports to maintain these high standards and for strong action to be taken against anyone repeatedly breaking the regulations across Europe."

Baroness Jane Campbell of the EHRC Disability Committee said airlines had described the new regulation as the industry's "biggest ever single shake-up in customer service".

Last year, it became illegal for airlines, travel agents or tour operators to refuse a booking on the grounds of disability.

• US connecting flights proving popular at Bristol Airport
• Celebrate St Patrick's Day in Dublin
• Long haul trips 'offer best value this year'
• Budget travellers offered holiday guide
• Spain top for Scots in 2009
• Abta expresses concern over insurance
• Ten reasons for tourists to see Western Australia
• Aer Lingus to launch flights from Gatwick Airport
• Italian trips on the menu for football fans
• More than 3m 'to head overseas this Christmas'