Discrimination against guide dog owners

For the past three years guide dog owners in Malta have been lobbying the managements of all airlines offering services to the UK for fair treatment and the ending of discrimination against those who wish to travel with their dogs in the cabin.

At this time, only three of the 52 flights per week can be used by those visually impaired persons who use an assistance dog. The airports are Newcastle, Gatwick and Manchester.

One may say this is better than nothing but two of these flights arrive after midnight when it is difficult for a normally-sighted person to get connections.

In 2007 a regulation came into force in the EU enabling airlines to carry dogs to the UK but only two operators comply to southern England - Thomson and Thomas Cook (who have themselves carried guide dogs since 2005). Before EasyJet took over services from GB Airways there were at least 16 flights a week.

When is this discrimination going to end?