Local MP Calls Time on Airline Discrimination

3.23.27pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 21st Dec 2005

Vincent Cable, MP, is supporting Scope's calls for the law to be changed so the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is extended to air and sea transport.

A snapshot survey by Scope has shown that disabled people are routinely discriminated against as airlines fail to comply with the voluntary code of practice on treatment of disabled passengers.

Amongst the many disturbing findings were: Air Southwest who suggested dogs used by visually-impaired people be strapped beneath their seats during the flight, and City Jet (Air France) who described disabled people as diseased and insisted a doctor would make the decision as to whether disabled people fly.

Vincent Cable, MP, who has signed an Early Day Motion calling for the Government to lift the exemption on air travel said,

"There was a dreadful case recently when Ryan Air refused to let disabled people fly. This is behaviour which would not be accepted on buses or trains or in the high street. Why should there be a different set of standards for airlines".

Angela Drane, a Scope trustee and wheelchair user said: "duty-free trolleys have more rights than disabled people on most airlines - I and many others have been made to feel like fourth-class passengers for too long. How many more disabled people will get left behind, before we have equality?"

Scope has published a Transport Charter which spells out key legal and attitudinal changes that are needed to ensure disabled people are treated like passengers rather than baggage. Read Scope's Charter at: http://www.timetogetequal.org.uk/downloads/travel_charter2.pdf