Brussels, 14/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 June, the Commission published non-binding guidelines explaining how to interpret the European legislation for air travellers with reduced mobility. Since 2008, European legislation has ensured that persons with disabilities or reduced mobility do not suffer from discrimination when travelling. Legislation, however, is applied differently by different operators or airports so that, when all is said and done, there is in fact discrimination, as a number of specific cases demonstrate. In order to ensure that all European citizens are able to use air transport, despite their disability or reduced mobility, the Commission considers a number of clarifications should be made. Siim Kallas, European Transport Commissioner, states: “Dealing with disability in life is a tough enough challenge: things shouldn't get even tougher when you arrive at the airport”.
This enlightened interpretation of the EU legislation highlights the fact that people who are hard of hearing or poor-sighted or who simply need crutches temporarily, should also be considered as people with reduced mobility. The Commission recommends that they give at least 2 days' notice to airlines (currently only 40% do so) so that the necessary assistance measures may be taken. The phone call made to give such notice should be free of charge. People suffering from a disability should not be asked to provide medical certificates or be accompanied for air travel. If, however, it is essential for them to have someone to accompany them, then that person should be able to fly at a reduced rate, if not free of charge. Finally, passengers should be allowed to bring two pieces of mobility equipment with them free of charge. For electric wheelchairs or oxygen material, the airline should be given prior notice and, in the second case, authorisation should be provided.
Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, said: “Quality assistance is very important for persons with disabilities and it is positively addressed in the interpretative guidelines. The European Commission chose a balanced approach and therefore manages to protect the interest of passengers with disabilities as well as passengers with reduced mobility in a proportionate manner”. His association recommends in particular that personnel be trained to this end. The same interpretation is valid for the passengers of European airlines for flights only partly in Europe. (MD/transl.jl)