New aviation passenger charter to improve flying experience
Today (7 December 2018) during a visit to Gatwick airport, the Aviation Minister Liz Sugg will outline the first proposed measures from the government’s upcoming aviation strategy consultation.
Building on the positive steps already taken by industry, the consultation proposes the creation of a new ‘passenger charter’ to be adopted by airlines and airports, and backed by the government.
Through a partnership between industry and government, the charter will promote best practice and create a shared agreement of the required service levels for passengers, ensuring improvements are felt throughout their journey.
A major focus of the charter centres on improving the flying experience for passengers with disabilities, providing clarity on the assistance that should be provided to people travelling with reduced mobility and hidden disabilities.
The government has worked with industry, including disability advisory groups, to put forward a number of proposed measures including:
- strengthening accessibility standards for airports and introduce new standards for airlines
- ensuring better training for airport and airline employees
- raising awareness among disabled passengers of their rights to assistance and how to obtain it
- improving storage standards for wheelchairs and waiving limits for compensation payments
- working with industry to achieve the long term goal of passengers being able to fly in their own air-worthy wheelchairs
