Accessible rights take flight

Business travel is full of obstacles - but for those with accessibility needs it can be downright impossible. Why is that still the case in 2023 and what is being done to fix it?

- TAMSIN COCKS

Around 15 per cent of the global population has a disability, and that figure is set to rise

Imagine being stranded at an airport, not being able to use the bathroom on an aeroplane, or lacking access to the IFE system. For many

travellers, such instances would prompt a flurry of outrage, but for those with accessibility needs – which includes people with mobility issues, visual and hearing impairments, neuro divergencies such as autism or ADHD, and other special requirements – it’s all too often a normal part of the travel experience.

British TV presenter Sophie Morgan is no stranger to the issues faced by travellers with accessibility needs. After her wheelchair was broken on a flight between London to Los Angeles in March this year (for the second time), she become the face of Rights on Flights, a national campaign to reform the industry and make it more inclusive.

“From beginning to end there are barriers when it comes to flying,” says Morgan. “I think it’s something that non-disabled people take for granted, and when you begin to understand the pain points, people are surprised that it’s still such a nightmare in this day and age – but it is.

“This includes everything from navigating airports, which can be quite overwhelming if you are neurodiverse or have ADHD, for example. Then there are examples of people who are blind being put into wheelchairs to get them through the airport because that’s all the assistance seems to be.