TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Airlines

US Airlines Pledge To Improve Accessibility For Disabled Passengers

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Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for US airlines, along with seven of its passenger airline members – Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest and United – have announced a pledge to improve accessible air travel for all passengers with disabilities, including those with mobility, cognitive and social disabilities. As part of the commitment, A4A’s passenger airlines have pledged to four actions intended to improve accessibility, while continuing to prioritize the safety of all passengers. In addition to the four-part commitment, A4A says that its passenger airline members meet all Department of Transportation (DOT) accessibility standards and fully support the rights of passengers with disabilities set forth in the DOT’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, most especially the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Read More.

Turkish Airlines Makes Room For The Tallest Woman In World’s First Ever Flight

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Rumeysa Gelgi, the world’s tallest living woman, recently boarded an airplane from her home country of Turkey to San Francisco. However, it wasn’t just any flight. It was Gelgi’s first, and one that highlighted growing attention to accessibility.

Gelgi, 25, stands at 7 feet, 7 inches tall. Her proportions are a result of Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic condition that causes bone overgrowth. She regularly travels to share her story and uses her warm wit to spread body positivity on social media. However, despite her international profile, she had never flown on an airplane before. Like many people with Weaver syndrome, Gelgi uses mobility aids to get around, and a long flight would require special accommodation for her extraordinary frame. But in September, Gelgi finally took to the skies. All was made possible after Turkish Airlines removed several seats on the plane so Gelgi could rest comfortably on a stretcher during the 13-hour journey from Istanbul to California. Read More.

Little Known Lavatory Options Available For Disabled Travelers

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Lack of onboard lavatory accessibility is a primary impediment to travel for persons with disabilities. And while U.S. airlines don’t have to provide accessible lavs on single-aisle aircraft, some carriers already offer semi-accessible facilities on portions of their narrowbody fleets.

Unfortunately, they do little to let people know about it.

“The fact that something exists that some people can use is just kind of a big secret,” said Ken Shiotani, senior staff attorney for the National Disability Rights Network, adding that those who can use those lavs “really should know that they’re there.” Read More.

IATA’s Linda Ristagno Recipient of Disability Access Professional Award

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Linda Ristagno, Assistant Director of External Affairs, International Air Transport Association (IATA), is the eighth recipient of the Open Doors Organization’s Disability Access Professional Award in recognition of her contributions to accessibility and equity in aviation. The ceremony took place on October 26, 2022, at ODO’s Universal Access in Aviation event, co-hosted this year by American Airlines at their Skyview Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas.

Linda joined IATA in 2010 and worked initially on various projects including Human Anti-Trafficking and various Cargo initiatives. Since 2018 Linda has devoted her energies to bringing accessibility to the forefront of all segments of IATA. Her tireless work led to the landmark 2019 IATA AGM Resolution on Passengers with Disabilities that committed IATA’s members to adopt policy and process principles to advance accessibility for passengers with disabilities. Read More.

A $30,000 motorized wheelchair is broken by Air Canada. Here’s what happened next.

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By Maayan Ziv | Toronto Life

In September, Maayan Ziv got off a flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv to find her wheelchair completely destroyed. Here, she explains why—and how—we need to improve travel for people with disabilities. Read her story.