Disabled passengers will gain better protection against wheelchair damage when flying, along with improved support from trained airport and airline staff, under new Government safeguards.
More than 1,000 wheelchairs were damaged in transit in 2023 alone, equivalent to more than 80 every month, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
The DfT said the changes would help disabled passengers ‘access clear information, receive appropriate assistance at the airport, and have the peace of mind their wheelchairs will be handled carefully by staff while in transit’.
It added that for those who rely on a wheelchair every day, damage can mean losing independence, missing holidays or vital work meetings, waiting weeks for specialist repairs, and suffering physical and mental health impacts.
The measures follow recommendations from former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey–Thompson, who led an investigation into aviation accessibility, and are being delivered through the Aviation Accessibility Implementation Group.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander thanked the group for its work, saying: “People must be able to fly with dignity and peace of mind – for disabled passengers this means not worrying about their wheelchair coming back in one piece, or whether staff will be there to support them around the airport.
“We’ve backed industry to overhaul staff training, prevent damage to mobility aids and create easy, simple ways for passengers to share key information before they fly, so they can travel with greater confidence.”
