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Aviation: Disabled

Answer

European regulation 1107/2006 on the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air imposes obligations on airlines with respect to the services they provide, including an obligation to carry passengers' medical equipment free of charge. However, there are no specific obligations to carry or provide oxygen in the cabin.To help the air transport industry to comply with its obligations under the regulation, the Department for Transport has published an updated version of its Code of Practice "Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility". The code was developed with input from the Civil Aviation Authority, Health and Safety Executive, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, the Devolved Administrations and aviation industry representatives. The code includes a section on oxygen which advises that air carriers may approve the carriage of small gaseous oxygen or air cylinders required for medical use, but notes that carriers will wish to ensure that these do not pose a risk to security. The code also recommends that portable oxygen concentrator devices should normally be allowed if battery powered. Where air carriers wish to supply medical oxygen to passengers on request, the code acknowledges that it would be possible to make a charge for this service to cover the provision of the oxygen.This is a matter which is best addressed at a European level. The Department has raised the issue of carriage of medical oxygen with the European Commission at a recent meeting of national enforcement bodies for regulation 1107/2006. The Commission is due to review the regulation in 2010.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

492 c20-1W; 271543

Session

2008-09

Registered interest declared

Yes

Subjects

Disability Aviation Aircraft Medical devices

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk