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Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has expressed strong support for proposed legislation that would impose fines on airlines failing disabled travelers. Highlighting her personal experiences, she described the challenges many wheelchair users face while flying, pointing to inconsistent treatment and a lack of clear processes for handling damaged or lost equipment. Speaking in the House of Lords, Baroness Grey-Thompson emphasized that help and compensation for disabled passengers often appear “a little bit too ad hoc.”
The Bill, which recently passed its second reading, aims to introduce comprehensive regulations governing flights, lost luggage, and pricing transparency. Aviation Minister Keir Mather commented that these reforms would “modernise” UK aviation and bolster the Civil Aviation Authority’s ability to enforce rules more effectively. Baroness Grey-Thompson recounted a distressing incident on a flight from Geneva to Birmingham where her wheelchair was lost and only returned weeks later, arriving via Dublin in two parts. She described how airline staff initially suggested she try to walk, despite her wheelchair dependence, and later offered her the wrong items as lost property.
In addition to this experience, Baroness Grey-Thompson recalled several occasions where the wheels of her racing chair were damaged, with airlines responding by replacing them with more costly versions without proper assessment. She stressed the need for better evaluation of equipment damage and clearer responsibility on the part of airlines. The gold-medallist highlighted the current absence of comprehensive data on these occurrences, noting it is often unclear whom disabled passengers should contact to resolve issues or lodge complaints. “This bill does present a significant opportunity to do something very different for disabled people,” she added.
Other voices in the House of Lords also commented on the legislation. Lord Christopher Holmes of Richmond, a blind former swimmer and Conservative peer, called for stronger, explicit rights for disabled passengers to be included directly in the Bill rather than left to subsequent regulations. He warned that the draft currently lacks specific safeguards for disabled individuals as well as older and younger travelers. Labour peer Baroness Theresa Griffin shared her own difficult experience of being left in airport holding areas and given only colouring pencils while traveling, and questioned whether the Bill’s provisions would cover both airlines and airports—a point confirmed by transport minister Lord Hendy, who assured that the government is committed to addressing the serious deficiencies in air travel for disabled passengers. Earlier, Keir Mather reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing passenger protections, stating, “no-one should be let down when they travel.
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