New UK measures: government promises better safeguards for disabled passengers and mobility aids

Plans to strengthen protections

The Department for Transport said airports had increased staff training and a standardised system had been introduced to help airlines prepare to handle mobility aids. The changes follow more than 1,000 wheelchairs damaged during transit in 2024, or more than 80 each month.

Commitment to dignified travel

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said disabled people should be able to fly without worrying about their wheelchair or whether staff will assist them around the airport. She said passengers must be able to travel with dignity and peace of mind.

The co-chairs of the aviation accessibility implementation group said progress had begun, but further work was needed. The group is assessing progress on 19 recommendations in Grey-Thompson’s report and said it would focus on embedding changes to help disabled people fly with confidence and dignity.

Assistance demand rises

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of lobby group Airlines UK, said the number of passengers requiring assistance had risen by nearly 10% year on year. Despite recent progress, almost a fifth of air travellers with disabilities remain dissatisfied with their experience.