The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) would like to react to an article titled Improved Mobility At MIA Translates Into Nominal Charge for Passengers (June 18) and to the letter Fee For Improved Mobility At Airport Is Unacceptable (June 25).
Let it be made clear that improved mobility at MIA is a requisite of Regulation 1107/2006 of the EU which targets all mobility-impaired passengers and places responsibility on both the airline and airport operator. This is to say that persons with disability are among such passengers. It should be clear that the term mobility-impaired passengers puts under one heading many categorisations of persons and not solely persons with disabilities. This comment is being made to clear the impression the article could have given that the improvements were made solely for persons with disabilities. We are conscious that the improvements will benefit persons with disabilities, but as stated, not solely them.
May we also refer to the bias towards the nominal fee that the article focussed upon. One has to see the benefits such regulation ensures for all persons with reduced mobility (PRM) and that the equality principle is being put into practice. MFOPD feels that the regulation is of vital importance to ensure the rights of all PRMs inclusive of persons with disability. Thus the focus of the article could have been on the positive aspect of the enhanced service being ensured to all.
May we clarify that the nominal charge being levied on all passengers (mobility-impaired or not) is also regulated by the above mentioned regulation. What we do see here is that the right for mobility impaired passengers to travel by air is being safeguarded and any discriminatory charges previously being levied have been eliminated.
With regard to the letter of June 25, the regulation also makes it mandatory for the airlines and airport operators to be accountable for their service. It stipulates that there has to be instituted a service of referral of such complaints, and that such complaints have to be followed up and decided upon with the relevant responsibilities being recognised. We are aware that such service is part of the improvements being launched. Passengers, and especially those with reduced mobility, are to refer all cases of lack of such service to the authorities concerned. Copying the Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability would enhance our position in following through such complaints.
MFOPD is also conscious that MIA, being the delegated service provider, has organised training courses for the ground handling staff. What we hope is that the training has started the ball rolling towards an attitudinal and cultural change that is very long overdue from staff at our airport. From the passengers' side we can become aware that now there is a system to seek redress and we should all make use of it. Complacency will mean that what happened to me will happen again to others.
May we conclude by reiterating that MFOPD believes that such regulation is ensuring that the rights of persons with reduced mobility are being safeguarded. We now expect and we all should do our best to ensure that the best service is provided and delivered with a smile.