Brussels, 24/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Saturday 26 July 2008 sees the entry into force of new provisions in Regulation 1107/2006 facilitating access to flights for people with reduced mobility (physically disabled, elderly, blind or partially sighted, the deaf or hard of hearing, as well as the mentally disabled). These provisions were adopted by the Council and European Parliament in July 2006. They will guarantee these categories of people free on-the-ground assistance (on the condition that they inform the airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before their arrival) and on board the plane (on entering the airport to the boarding gate in the departure and arrivals airports). For Community operated flights leaving and going to a destination in the EU, airlines will be obliged to provide certain services free of charge, such as the transporting of wheel chairs to cabins or provision of guide dogs for the blind. These services cannot arbitrarily refuse to embark regulation beneficiaries except in case of “breaches to security requirements” or aircraft size inadaptability. The regulation also requires airline personnel training and compensation in the event of loss or breakages to mobility equipment (such as wheel chairs) (EUROPE 9094). Antonio Tajani informed the press on the entry into force of the regulation that, “this is a question of freedom for people of reduced mobility to travel in the European Union”. New rules will apply to all airports that transport more than 1500 passengers a year, “nearly 500 airports in Europe”, explained the Transport Commissioner. He also underlined that around 127 million European citizens are affected by this development. The European Commission will be making new proposals before the end of the year to guarantee help to people of reduced mobility in land and maritime transport. If someone considers that these rights have not been respected, they can bring the matter to the attention of the national enforcement body designated by the Member State (the list is still incomplete) concerned, which can be consulted at
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http: //ec.europa.eu/transport/air_portal/passenger_rights/prm/doc/2006_07_05_national_enforcement_
bodies_en.pdf). (A.By./trans/rh)