PassengersPassenger RightsRights of disabled persons when travelling by air

Rights of disabled persons when travelling by air

 


New rules with the purpose of providing disabled persons, persons with reduced mobility and elderly people the same opportunities for air travel as any other passengers flying from the EU territory will enter into force in July 2008. These measures are intended to respond to the needs of a large group of citizens, which is also growing steadily as the European population ages.



According to the European Commission, the implementation of these rules will put an end to discrimination based on reduced mobility and provide disabled and elderly passengers the assistance they need for travelling by air. Gradual implementation of the rules began on 26 July 2007.
 
Around 10% of the European population is affected by reduced mobility. A majority of them are disabled or elderly people, while others are unable to walk long distances as often required at airports. Most airlines and airports strive to provide the assistance needed, but not all of them offer comprehensive assistance without charge.
 
These problems are addressed by Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted on 5 July 2006. The regulation deals with the right of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility to travel by air without extra difficulty. It contains provisions on three different areas. For the first area, the regulation entered into force on 26 July 2007, and for the other two it will become effective on 26 July 2008.
 
 

Rights guaranteed by the regulation

 
 Rights established by the regulation for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility
 
 

Enforcement

 
 Each EU member state must designate a body responsible for ensuring that the regulation is applied in its territory. In Finland, the designated body is the Finnish Civil Aviation Authority. Bodies responsible for the enforcement of the regulation in other member states are shown in this list.
 
Any person affected by a disability or by reduced mobility who considers that these rights have not been respected can bring the matter to the attention of the airport operator or the airline in question. In case of an unsatisfactory response, a complaint can be made to the national enforcement body designated by the Member State – in Finland the Finnish Civil Aviation Authority.
 
 
 

Who is the service intended for?



  • Passengers whose mobility is reduced by reason of physical or developmental disability
  • Persons with impaired vision or hearing
  • Persons with temporarily reduced mobility
  • Elderly passengers
  • Anyone requiring special assistance. 

 

Points to consider

 
  • In practice, the service procedures in Finland will remain almost unchanged. The most significant change is that the service will also be extended outside the actual terminal area, to airport car parks and public transport stops.
  • To ensure a high quality of service, it is essential to inform the airline or travel agency of the need for assistance in time: preferably already when booking the trip, but at least 48 hours before departure.
  • Airlines will transmit the information to the airport at least 36 hours before the flight.
  • No separate fee is charged to the passenger for the assistance, but the costs are shared by the airlines in proportion to their passenger numbers.
 
Further information can be obtained from:
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air_portal/passenger_rights/prm/index_en.htm
http://www.finavia.fi/informationreducedmobility