The rights of air passengers with disability or reduced mobility have been strengthened by new regulations that have just come into force in Britain.

Under EU regulations, disabled air travellers are legally entitled to special assistance.

Since August this year, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has been using its information duties, introduced as part of the Civil Aviation Act 2012, to work with major airlines and airports to improve the quality of this special assistance information available on their websites.

Last Monday the Civil Aviation (Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility) Regulations 2014 came into effect. These changes mean the CAA now has full legal authority to ensure airlines or airports comply with the special assistance regulations.

“In using these new powers we aim to ensure the passenger experience for disabled people and people with a reduced mobility is further improved and enhanced.

“Good and easily accessible information relating to special assistance is essential for passengers with reduced mobility,” said the CAA’s regulatory policy director Iain Osborne.

He went on: “When we reviewed airlines’ and airports’ websites, we found this was not always easy to find and often unclear and lacking in detail. So we have worked with the industry to make sure it is presented in a much clearer fashion and just one click from the homepage.

“It is pleasing to note that most airlines and airports have now made these improvements. Where this is not the case, the CAA will work with the airlines and airports involved to bring them into full compliance.”

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