Stronger safeguards for wheelchair users and better-trained staff to support disabled air passengers

Disabled passengers will be better protected from having wheelchairs damaged when they fly and will receive better support from trained airport and airline staff, as new accessibility improvements are rolled out across the aviation industry.

The changes will help tackle the barriers many disabled people face throughout their journeys – helping them access clear information, receive appropriate assistance at the airport, and have the peace of mind their wheelchairs will be handled carefully by staff while in transit.

More than 1,000 wheelchairs were damaged in transit in 2023 alone, equivalent to more than 80 every month. This equates to an average of 0.43% of the wheelchairs transported in 2023 being damaged.

For passengers who rely on wheelchairs every day, a damaged wheelchair can mean losing their independence, missing out on hard-earned holidays or vital work meetings, facing lengthy waits for specialist repairs, and suffering physical and mental health impacts.

The changes were driven forward following recommendations from former Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who led an investigation into aviation accessibility.

They are being implemented thanks to the Aviation Accessibility Implementation Group (AAIG), a cross-industry advisory group established by the Department for Transport to improve air travel for less mobile passengers. The AAIG is independent, but government supports its work and the report.

Heidi Alexander, Transport Secretary, said:

I’d like to say a huge thank you to the group for everything they are doing to improve the experiences of disabled passengers flying in and out of our airports.