After analysing my survey, which I put to 97 people with disabilities, I discovered the amount of dissatisfaction and issues with air-travel, I decided to dedicate my last post to the problems that wheelchair users face when trying to fly. Having a disability should not be a barrier to air travel and holidays.

Despite people with disabilities planning ahead and giving the airlines as much notice as possible still we hear different stories about broken or lost wheelchairs, or even leaving people with disabilities on the tarmac (Coffey, 2017; Levy, 2011; Malm, 2014; Taylor, 2018). For instance we all were shocked when Justin Levene dragged himself through Luton Airport as his wheelchair was left behind (Coleman, 2018), or when The security correspondent, Frank Gardner left alone on plane at Heathrow airport for the second times within six months, he has also criticised Heathrow for repeatedly losing his wheelchair and forcing him to stay on the plane for ages after everyone else has disembarked (BBC, 2018).

Former Paralympian, the 11-times gold medal-winner, disability rights campaigner, Baroness Grey-Thompson said she had been forced to sit on the floor at airport gates because no wheelchair was available. (Coleman, 2018).

Baroness Grey-Thompson said, “Most of my inbox is full of complaints about trains or planes.” She continues by adding “a lot of disabled people don’t complain” because “you might spend most of your life complaining, so the true number [affected] might be more”. (BBC, 2018)

From a man kicked off a Ryanair flight because his wheelchair wouldn’t fold to a chair being damaged in the hold, wheelchair users often struggle even to board a plane (Ryan, 2018)

Johnny Short, Lecturer in Air Transport, a former pilot said the ground staff couldn’t locate his wheelchair and after much difficulty and locating the wheelchair he received his wheelchair broken and after complaining to the ground-handling staff their response was “tough!”

According to my research most wheelchair users, especially those who are using power wheelchair are too concerns that avoid travelling by air, one of participant said, “Flying feels impossible with my ventilator and powerchair. The idea of international travel seems too daunting, so I probably won’t ever try”. Also, (Lovelock & Lovelock, 2013) mentions a study with spinal cord injuries participant that apart from other worries, the worry that airline could possibly lose their wheelchair prevent them from flying, as the risk is too high they will not travel.

The question is that when trains, buses and cars can be adapted to carry wheelchairs why cannot planes? Why the aviation industry so behind in adapting planes when it is advanced as not only sending scientist into space and bring them back to earth safely but also the new possibility of space tourism? (Holmes, 2018) Aviation industry needs to understand the benefits of this simple change, which can stop the vast amount of complaints and bring a new stream of revenue to the industry.

Even if the adaptations to the planes are not possible, they can try their best to accommodate passengers with disabilities, at the moment there are few airlines that are trying, for instance, Qantas, provides the best all-round disability service, they provide full support from the moment passenger with disability arrive at the airport, they can assist with lifting in and out of seat if needed, and will arrange early boarding. Service animals are welcome and, if passengers with disability need a carer, both will be able to travel at a reduced rate. (Kermode, 2018)

After realising that providing the service is do-able we just can hope to see a drastic change within the aviation industry to enable people with disability to travel with dignity as Svetlana Kotova, from the disability equality charity Inclusion London, said “We are customers too and we should be valued and treated with dignity and respect.”

 

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References

BBC. (2018, 08 7). BBC’s Frank Gardner left stuck on Heathrow plane for a second time. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45103327

BBC. (2018, 07 13). Four airports found to be failing disabled passengers. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44807283

Coffey, H. (2017, 05 17). AIR CANADA ‘DUMPED AND ABANDONED’ FAMILY WITH DISABLED SON AT TORONTO AIRPORT. Retrieved from Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/air-canada-flight-toronto-airport-brain-injury-down-syndrome-disabled-son-family-abandoned-a7738531.html

Coleman, C. (2018, 11 2). Paraplegic man drags himself through airport. Retrieved from BBC News: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45765767

Holmes, O. (2018, 11 19). Space: how far have we gone – and where are we going? Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/19/space-how-far-have-we-gone-and-where-are-we-going

Kermode, J. (2018, 12 7). Best Airlines for Disabled Travel. Retrieved from Disabled Travel Advice: http://www.disabledtraveladvice.co.uk/best-airlines-disabled-travel.html

Levy, A. (2011, 04 14). Disabled woman sues Ryanair after husband is forced to give her fireman’s lift to get her on plane. Retrieved from Dailymail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376905/Abandoned-tarmac-Disabled-woman-left-sitting-plane-Ryanair-wouldnt-fetch-lift.html

Lovelock, B., & Lovelock, K. M. (2013). The Ethics of Tourism. London: Routledge.

Malm, S. (2014, 07 24). Disabled man who was forced to CRAWL off Delta plane, down a flight of stairs… and do the same on his flight back from Hawaii vacation wins a ‘substantial’ payout. Retrieved from Dailymail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2610181/Disabled-man-forced-CRAWL-Delta-plane-flight-stairs-tarmac-agreed-substantial-settlement.html

Ryan, F. (2018, 09 03). Five difficulties wheelchair users face when flying by plane. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/shortcuts/2018/sep/03/five-reasons-hard-to-fly-wheelchair-disabled-ryanair-flight

Taylor, D. (2018, 08 27). Paralympian left stranded on Stansted flight after staff delay. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/aug/26/paralympian-left-stranded-on-stansted-flight-after-staff-delay

Webb, J. (2019, 01 7). Air Travel for Wheel Chair Users. Retrieved from Disabled Travel Advice: http://www.disabledtraveladvice.co.uk/air-travel-for-wheel-chair-users.html