A Regulation on disabled people's access to air travel was adopted in 2005 and came into effect in two stages, partly in July 2007 and the rest in July 2008. It applies to all disabled people, and states that they may not be refused transport on the grounds of their disability or reduced mobility. It guarantees assistance to them free of charge at the airport and/or on the aircraft, provided they give 48 hours notice.
The Regulation (1107/2006) was published in the Official Journal on 26 July 2006.
Articles 3 and 4 apply from 26 July 2007 Article 3 reads:
An air carrier or its agent or a tour operator shall not refuse, on the grounds of disability or of reduced mobility:
(a) to accept a reservation for a flight departing from or arriving at an airport to which this Regulation applies;
(b) to embark a disabled person or a person with reduced mobility at such an airport, provided that the person concerned has a valid ticket and reservation.
Article 4 carries exceptions to this rule and other special conditions
Other aspects of the Regulation come into effect on 26 July 2008.
The Department for Transport carried out a public consultation on the implementation of the Regulation in the UK, including on penalties for infringements. More information on the DfT website.
Robert Evans, MEP (Labour, London) was the European Parliament rapporteur who steered the legislation through the Parliament.