The study, conducted by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign charity, suggested that a majority (60 per cent) of passengers surveyed felt unsafe when transferring from a wheelchair to an airline seat. The same number reported having their wheelchair damaged during a flight.

A huge majority – nine in 10 – of those who took part said they were unable to use airline toilets when on board, with at least one passenger saying they needed to urinate in a bottle due to the lack of access. Some disabled people were put off flying altogether due to the problems they faced, the research found.

The report, gathered from questions put to 100 young disabled travellers, has led to calls for airlines to “clean up their act” and to “catch up” with other forms of transport.

Tnayi Vyas of Muscular Dystrophy Campaign said: “Our investigation has found that the process of travelling by air is for many a source of anxiety and embarrassment, regularly leading to holidays being ruined, equipment being damaged and disabled people being put off flying for good.”

“This report should be a wake-up call on the need to drastically overhaul services, in order to meet disabled customers’ basic needs. It is time for disabled customer to be able to trust airlines and feel confident when flying.”

Campaigners said airlines needed to improve communication, allow greater compensation for damaged wheelchairs, offer easier arrange mobility assistance, and work to improve accessibility in aircraft cabins.

The report is being presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Young Disabled people today, where MPs, representatives from several airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority and Boeing UK will discuss the treatment of disabled travellers.

It also follows a survey published last month, in which almost nine in 10 of travellers said their disability had prevented them from travelling – although most respondents did say that accessibility had improved in the past decade.

Earlier this month in Telegraph Travel, the broadcaster and wheelchair user Lara Masters also called for an overhaul in airlines’ policies towards disabled passengers.

Source: The Telegraph

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