easyJet’s special assistance advisory group officially launched its Pan-European Charter on Meeting the Needs of Disabled Air Travellers

LONDON, 2015-4-23 — /Travel PR News/ — easyJet’s special assistance advisory group (ESAAG) officially launched its Pan-European Charter on Meeting the Needs of Disabled Air Travellers at an event in the European Parliament today.

The independent advisory group, which is chaired by former UK Labour MP David Blunkett, has advised the airline on the needs of passengers requiring special assistance since 2012. ESAAG was established by easyJet to provide easyJet with strategic advice and practical guidance on the evolving needs of passengers requiring special assistance, reviewing, challenging and improving easyJet’s policies and procedures. Every day easyJet flies around 1,000 passengers requiring special assistance – more than 350,000 passengers every year across its network

The Charter is based on lessons learned from the work of the group, which consists of well-respected external experts on passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) matters and easyJet representatives, as well as their practical insights while travelling across Europe. It contains concrete recommendations for airlines, airports, and policymakers on how to make travelling for PRM passengers easier and more consistent between countries and airports.

David Blunkett, ESAAG Chair, said: “Although European legislation to safeguard disabled passenger rights is in place, passengers still do not get a consistent level of service on any airline or airport in the EU. Additionally, while the legislation has raised awareness, many passengers are not fully informed on their rights and responsibilities. This charter should provide a useful and succinct guide to best practice. We call on all parties involved to improve information-sharing, particularly regarding who is responsible at each stage of the passenger journey.”

The event was hosted by MEP Lucy Anderson, a member of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, who said: “‘Accessibility for all’ is an issue for which public support continues to grow. However, we know that in the field of transport, passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility continue to face significant barriers, be these physical or logistical. Evidence indicates that the approach taken by national enforcement bodies on PRM passenger rights when travelling by air varies widely and it is important that this issue remains high on both the Commission’s and Member States’ agendas.”

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility should be confident that the ‘special assistance’ provided at airports and on board aircraft is both of a high quality and reliable.”

“We therefore welcome this new Pan-European Charter and would encourage all airports and airlines to consider its recommendations and whether they could be used to improve the services they currently provide.”

“In particular we support the Charter’s focus on improving the information available to passengers with a disability or reduced mobility and on ensuring more consistency in the quality of special assistance available.”

“As the UK’s aviation regulator we are committed to improving the air travel experience for this group of passengers and continue to work closely with all UK airports and airlines to ensure they meet their legal obligations under EU law and make air travel as accessible as possible to all.”

Following the launch of the Charter, ESAAG members now aim to promote a discussion on its recommendations with various stakeholders around Europe.

About ESAAG:
ESAAG (easyJet special assistance advisory group) was established to primarily provide the airline with strategic guidance and practical advice on the evolving needs of passengers requiring special assistance. ESAAG reviews, discusses, challenges and seeks to improve internal policies and procedures across the customer journey. The group consists of well-respected external experts and senior internal representatives from easyJet.

ESAAG Members

David Blunkett, Chair, former Labour MP

Ann Bates OBE, formerly Deputy Chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee at the UK Department for Transport

Roberto Castiglioni, editor-in-chief of the Reduced Mobility Rights website

Ann Frye, owner, PassePartout Training and former head of the Mobility & Inclusion Unit at the UK Department for Transport

Mervyn Kohler, Special Adviser at Age UK

Stefano Medaglia, architect and design consultant

Jean Marie Munier, formerly with the Association pour Adultes et Jeunes Handicap (APAJH) France

Marcus Rocca, director of Mobility International Switzerland

About easyJet:
easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 65 million passengers annually, of which more than 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 220 aircraft on more than 700 routes to over 130 airports across 32 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in seven countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions.  The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £4m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger’s carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch almost 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers.

ENDS

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office +44 1582 525252, email press.office@easyjet.com or follow @easyJet_Press

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