TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Airlines

New IATA Resolution Addresses 30% Rise in Wheelchair Requests

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Requests for wheelchair assistance skyrocketed to 30% between 2016 and 2017, “putting a strain on the quality of the service provided, reports the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in a recent press release. (The average increase in requests between 2010-2018 was 17%, according to Open Doors Organization.)

At their Annual General Meeting, IATA overwhelming passed a resolution that promises the organization will have two new priorities: First, to work with airports to ensure that wheelchair assistance is available to those who need it. Second, to dramatically lower the number of mobility devices (scooters and wheelchairs, for example) that are damaged or lost in transport.READ MORE

OUR TAKE: If they’re smart, they’ll be speaking with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who has made it her mission to see that airlines are accountable to the public for damage done to wheelchairs. Legislation sponsored by Duckworth now requires airlines to report wheelchair damage monthly. If the IATA resolution is any indication, Duckworth’s advocacy is already having a profound effect on the industry. TravelAbility Insider has been tracking the results in our Duckworth Damage Report.

All airlines ranked by the number of wheelchairs damaged in one month and YTD

Senator Duckworth’s Wheelchair Advocacy Will Not Be Crushed

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Senator Duckworth in a wheelchair at a. Democratic event

Change can and does happen, even in Washington, D.C.—at least if you are the invincible Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). As a direct result of legislation introduced by Senator Duckworth in 2018, the Department of Transportation (DOT) revised the Air Travel Consumer Report, requiring airlines to disclose the number of damaged wheelchairs and scooters monthly. That number hadn’t been previously available (wheelchairs had been reported as ‘luggage’ in the past). Senator Duckworth is a longtime advocate for people with disabilities (see earlier posts)

We applaud you, Senator Duckworth, for helping to measure what matters with our all-new “Duckworth Damage Report,’ below.


chart of totals airline chair damage for 3 mostThe fine print: U.S. airlines with at least 0.5 percent of total domestic scheduled-service passenger revenues must report the damage to any chair or mobility scoot transported in its aircraft cargo departments. This report covers December 2018, January & February 2019. Year to Date numbers reflects the change in reporting required by 14 CFR 234 and consolidated data from branded codeshares. Source: Department of Transportation Statistics Bureau

 

Which UK Airports Will Be 2020 All-Stars? (Plus: Free Accessible UK Itinerary)

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silhouette of a boy walking through airport very serene photoWhen a civil aviation report shows that 10% of airports in the UK don’t have a high quality of accessibility what exactly does that mean? For starters, a quarter of airport businesses could not accommodate those in wheelchairs, and a third of companies were unable to accommodate for those with cognitive impairments like autism. Even what may seem to be minor hassles—long wait times for assistance or untrained desk staff—are major factors in a disabled travelers experience. As revisions to systems are made, airports that were looking pretty dismal are rising all-stars. Edinburgh’s ‘Very Good’ rating was particularly impressive given that just two years ago its accessibility was considered ‘Poor’. Another all-star was Liverpool. READ MORE

BONUS! If you want a great experience touring London, here’s an Accessible London itinerary from TravelAbility Summit Advisory Board Member Cory Lee. Thanks, Cory, your expertise is always appreciated.
 

Expectations Crushed…as Was Senator Duckworth’s Wheelchair 

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Senator Duckworth in a wheelchair at a. Democratic event

When Senator Tammy Duckworth (D, Ill.) pushed for a ruling mandating that airlines report damage done to wheelchairs and assistive devices, disability advocates predicted the monthly numbers would be crushing. And then…the first month predicted that the reporting went public, Duckworth’s chair was on the Department of Transportation’s damaged list. Ok, mistakes happen, but really? Read the full story, here.

 

 

photo credit: Flickr/Senate Democrats

 

The Inside Scoop for Travel Agents on Super-serving Disabled Travelers 

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a book that says good adviceTravel Pulse recently spoke with Craig Kennedy, who works as a disability consultant and trainer with the Open Doors Organization, The organization conducts studies on travelers with disabilities. Their Q&A offers valuable advice on how to be the best resource for all clients. Read the full story here.