ABTA calls on disabled travellers to ask for help
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As the World Health Organisation declares today the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, ABTA is calling on customers with disabilities to let their travel agent, tour operator or airline know at least 48 hours before travel if they need assistance at the airport. Travel companies are happy to provide assistance and also have an obligation under the Persons with Reduced Mobility Regulations, but they have found that customers can be reticent in expressing their need for help.
The PRM regulations were introduced on 26 July 2008 and placed an obligation on travel, agents, tour operators and airlines within the European Union not to refuse a booking to anyone with restricted mobility and to ensure that air travel is fully accessible. However if advance notice is not provided, resources such as wheelchairs and airport staff may not be readily available often causing delay and inconvenience to customers.
Casia Zajac ABTA Head of Communications said “Persons with Disabilities are incredibly important to our industry and we are more than happy to remove any barriers to their ability to travel. Letting transport providers at the airport know of any requirements in advance is an easy and sensible way to help us to do that”
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