Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to work with airlines and airports to enable wheelchair users to board and travel on aeroplanes with comfort and dignity.

The rights of disabled persons and those with reduced mobility when travelling by air are important to the Government, and we are keen to see improvements happen where necessary. We welcome innovative ideas being discussed, such as the campaign “Flying Disabled” that champions wheelchair access to aircraft. The campaign is in early stages, with the industry looking further into the proposal. The Government will follow this work closely.

More widely, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the national enforcement body for disabled passenger rights legislation in the UK. They work closely with the industry and monitor their performance to ensure the service the passengers receive is of high quality. The CAA publishes a report annually in which the UK airports are ranked as “very good”, “good” or “poor” in relation to the services and assistance they provide to disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility.