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Answer to a written question – Rights of air passengers with disabilities – E-001935/2025(ASW)

Source: European Parliament

In 2023, the Commission proposed[1] a targeted revision of the EU passenger rights legislation with a focus on effective enforcement, including Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006[2] (the ‘Regulation’).

A broad stakeholder consultation required by the Better Regulation framework[3] preceded the adoption of the Commission proposal, to which representatives of persons with disabilities also contributed.

The regulation already includes several provisions that oblige operators to actively engage with representatives of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (PRM).

For instance, when establishing quality standards for assisting PRM, airport managing bodies are required to collaborate with organisations representing these individuals[4].

Similarly, airport managing bodies must work with such organisations when designating arrival and departure points where PRM can announce their presence at the airport[5].

Additionally, Recital 10 of the regulation emphasises that airports and air carriers should have regard to ECAC Doc No 30, Part I, Section 5[6], when organising disability awareness and assistance training for their personnel.

This document underscores the importance of cooperation between airport managing bodies, air carriers, and organisations representing PRM in developing training programs, policies, and procedures.

Accordingly, the Commission did not consider that there was a need to impose new obligations on airports and airlines to consult representatives of persons with disabilities.

  • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52023PC0753.
  • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1107/oj/eng.
  • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation_en.
  • [4] See Article 9(1) of the regulation.
  • [5] See Article 5(1) of the regulation.
  • [6] The latest version of the document (13th Edition, December 2023) can be found at: https://www.ecac-ceac.org/images/activities/facilitation/ECAC-Doc_30_Part_I_Facilitation_13th_edition_13_Dec_2023.pdf.