PURPOSE : to strengthen the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Regulation 1107/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.
CONTENT : the aim of this Regulation is to strengthening the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.
The regulation establishes rules to protect disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility against discrimination and to ensure that they receive appropriate assistance. Under the regulation a reservation or boarding can only be refused for justified safety requirements or if, due to the size of the aircraft or its doors, the embarkation or carriage of a disabled person or person with reduced mobility is physically impossible. In the event of refusal to accept a reservation, the person concerned will be offered an acceptable alternative. In the event of embarkation being refused, the person will be offered the right to reimbursement or re-routing.
The airport managing body will be responsible for ensuring the provision of the assistance at airports without additional charge. It may provide such assistance itself, or may contract with one or more other parties for the supply thereof. The managing body may levy a specific charge on airport users for the purpose of funding the assistance.
Air carriers will remain responsible for providing assistance to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility in aircraft, including the carriage of recognised assistance dogs and up to two pieces of medical equipment per person.
Air carriers and airport managing bodies must ensure that their personnel has appropriate knowledge of how to meet the needs of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility, and should where necessary provide training to that end.
The Member States will take measures to inform disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility of their rights under the regulation and of the possibility of complaint to designated bodies.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : 15/08/2006.