The purpose of this proposal from the Commission is to establish a regulatory framework for providing assistance for persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air, particularly by establishing the relative responsibilities of air carriers and airport authorities for providing assistance.
Persons with reduced mobility include not only disabled people, estimated at around 45 million in the Community or 10% of the population, but also others unable to use air transport without assistance. These are often elderly people who cannot walk long distances around large, modern airports, heavily pregnant women, or otherwise perfectly healthy people who have, for example, a broken leg and are on crutches. It is estimated that 1% of those on scheduled flights and 1.6% of those on leisure services are assisted, amounting to some seven million passengers per year. The proposed regulation contains a wide definition of persons with reduced mobility which covers everyone in these categories.
There are no guidelines about whether the cost of providing assistance for persons with reduced mobility should be borne by air carriers or airport authorities. The regulation proposes the principal responsibility will rest with the airport authorities which may recover their costs from the air carriers in proportion to the total number of passengers carried by each airline. The idea is to eliminate any economic disincentive for airlines to carry persons with reduced mobility. The assistance is to be provided free of charge for the person with reduced mobility.
The proposed regulation prohibits air carriers or tour operators from refusing to carry persons on the grounds of reduced mobility with certain exceptions and derogations, notably for justified safety reasons. The proposal gives persons with reduced mobility the right to a package of assistance at airports specified in annexe I on departure, on arrival and in transit. It also contains provisions on prior notification of the need for this assistance. Under the regulation, the managing bodies of airports will be responsible for providing the assistance free of charge for persons with reduced mobility and will be permitted to levy charges on air carriers to fund it.
The proposal requires that, after proper consultation, the managing body of an airport lay down quality standards for the assistance it provides for persons with reduced mobility. Moreover, it obliges air carriers to provide assistance on aircraft specified in annexe II free of charge for such passengers. The regulation stipulates that air carriers and tour operators will be obliged to make certain arrangements concerning prior notification of the need for assistance and forbids the limitation or waiver of obligations created by the regulation. In addition, the proposal requires member states to designate bodies responsible for enforcement of the regulation and dealing with complaints and to lay down sanctions for infringements. The Commission is obliged to report on the operation and results of the regulation in due course and perhaps make some proposals for amendments.
This is a brief outline of the provisions of the regulation. I will be happy to deal with any questions.