Photos: BRETT COVE 

On Thursday 14 September 2023, we joined an audience of MPs, airlines, policy experts and supporters as British TV presenter, author, and Disability advocate, Sophie Morgan announced her new proposal at the House of Commons, Westminster to urge the government to pass more robust laws and changes to protect Disabled travellers.

Sophie’s trailblazing campaign, Rights on Flights demonstrated the urgency for the aircraft industry to take Disabled people more seriously. June 2023 saw legal reform and the government’s response to the ongoing issues surrounding Disabled travellers and airlines. The reforms included plans for the Civil Aviation Authority {CAA} to be able to issue financial penalties to airlines that fail in their obligations to disabled travellers.

The new Rights on Flights legislation “Assisted Air Travel Act” includes:

  1. Institution of the Complaint Resolution Official to handle situations affecting disabled people as they arise
  2. Clear-cut processes and procedures for the transport of mobility aids
  3. Legal obligations for the accessibility of airports and aeroplanes
  4. A new way of funding free transport of carers where one is needed to comply with safety rules
  5. New fast-tracked process and procedure to address damaged or lost mobility aids
  6. A tiered system of enforcement tools also includes direct compensation to passengers for minor violations
  7. Greater involvement of disabled people in the decision-making process of airport managing bodies and airlines

Yesterday’s event and manifesto comes the week disability equality charity Scope UK exposed failures on flights and new statistics including:

  • One-third (33 per cent) of disabled people who have flown in the past 5 years have made an accessibility-related complaint to an airport, airline, or the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), this figure rises to seven in ten (72 per cent) for 18- to 34-year-olds
  • One in eight (12 per cent) disabled people haven’t flown in the past 5 years because they fear medication being lost or damaged
  • One in four of us is disabled - these failings are potentially impacting on millions of disabled travellers and their families who use our airports every year

Like many wheelchair users, Sophie has experienced several traumatic incidents when travelling overseas. However, it was following a flight in January 2023, which resulted in substantial damage to her wheelchair and a mass of press and social media coverage, that Sophie decided immediate tangible action was needed and Rights on Flights was born.
The initial legislative change was to ensure Disabled passengers, and their mobility devices can travel in a safe and dignified manner. Whilst the end goal for the campaign is for the redesign of aircraft to allow inclusive air travel for all – the immediate action is to provide adequate aid and assistance so Disabled passengers can travel with confidence and assurance.

Sophie Morgan comments:

‘For far too long we have normalised the discrimination disabled people have to endure when flying. But enough is enough. We have no time to lose as this is now a crisis. If nondisabled people were having their legs broken at the same rate that we are having our chairs broken there would be an outcry. We will not tolerate any further abuse. As a wheelchair user, I’ve been ignored, abandoned, and had wheelchairs damaged and I am not alone. “Rights on Flights" are working collaboratively towards one end goal - for disabled passengers to have the same experience as other passengers. We need a more robust, passenger-centric legislation so we have written one and we will not be deterred in our mission to make space for disabled people. This legislation has been created by and for disabled people but if implemented will change air travel for everyone.’

Josh Wintersgill, Founder of Able Move says:

‘2023 will go down as the start of a new beginning in history for assisted air travel globally! Rights on Flights is playing a crucial role in this history defining year and we’re here to stay. We will bring accountability to industry through harmonisation, inclusion, transparency, accessibility, and fairness to ensure an equitable air travel experience for all.’

Christopher Wood MBE, Director at Flying Disabled says:

‘The Rights on Flights quartet places the disabled community front and centre of change. Intelligent infrastructure and legislation will ensure safer air travel. For decades the disabled community have flown in a safety system with a higher element of personal risk on their ticket. ALL passenger safety must be the same.’

Roberto Castiglioni, Director at Reduced Mobility Rights says:

‘It's easy to think Rights on Flights is just about punishing airlines, but this is a misguided assumption. It's really all about promoting the accessibility of air travel and guaranteeing that disabled individuals can fly with dignity. Naturally, laws need to have enforcement provisions - if the police couldn't hand out speeding fines, would roads be safer?’