Spain pushes for wheelchair air travel

THE Ministries of Transport in the twenty-five European Union countries yesterday unanimously agreed to approve the draft law which will ban discrimination of disabled people in air travel. The law would bar airlines from denying boarding on the grounds of a disability, except for safety reasons or if the aircraft is too small or otherwise physically unable to accommodate the passengers' needs. In such cases, the passenger must be able to book another flight free of charge or be reimbursed for the original ticket. The law will also oblige airports to provide free help for passengers in wheelchairs, providing they give advance notice. The Spanish Minister for Tourism, Magdalena Alvarez, declared that the new law is an “important advance” to achieve “equal opportunities” for handicapped people. The ministers agreed airport managers should have the task of providing help to people with “reduced mobility” within the airport itself. This will be financed by levying a charge on the airlines, in proportion to the number of passengers carried. Airports can contract the services out or provide them themselves, the rules say. If passengers do not warn in advance that they need assistance, airports are still required to make their “best efforts”. Airlines continue to have responsibility for helping such passengers on board the plane.