MPs vow better care for disabled air passengers

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 19, 2026

The UK government has committed to enhancing services for disabled air travelers by improving wheelchair protection and increasing disability-trained staff at airports following a review led by Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson. Despite some progress, ongoing challenges remain as many mobility aids are still damaged and nearly 20% of disabled passengers report dissatisfaction, prompting continued efforts to raise accessibility standards.

The UK government has pledged to improve services for disabled air passengers, including better protection for wheelchairs and enhanced support from trained personnel. The commitment follows a review led by Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson, who highlighted ongoing challenges and called for stronger measures to prevent disabled travelers from becoming stranded during their journeys.

According to a report by an industrial accessibility organization, progress has been made in the year since the review, but significant work remains to be done to meet the needs of disabled passengers. A key concern has been the high number of damaged mobility aids: more than 1,000 wheelchairs were reported broken during air travel in 2024 alone.

In response, the Department for Transport announced that airports have increased staff training focused on disability support. Additionally, a new standardized system has been introduced to better equip airlines and airport personnel in handling mobility devices. These steps aim to reduce incidents of damage and improve the overall travel experience for passengers requiring assistance.

Despite these efforts, dissatisfaction persists within the disabled traveler community. Industry data indicates that nearly 20 percent of disabled passengers remain unhappy with their air travel experience, and the demand for assistance services continues to rise. This suggests ongoing challenges for the aviation sector in fully addressing accessibility issues.

Officials emphasize that the new measures represent a foundation for further improvements, with a view to ensuring that air travel is safe, reliable, and dignified for all passengers. The government and industry stakeholders have expressed a shared commitment to continuing work on accessibility standards and staff training to better meet the needs of disabled travelers in the coming years.

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