Smaller planes on many domestic routes mean thousands of passengers at Canberra Airport board and disembark on the tarmac via stairs in all weather.
But wheelchair users like quadriplegic Lud Kerec are lowered to the ground in a narrow temporary wheelchair on an open-air, scissor-lift style device and the Forde resident says the “archaic” mode of access makes him feel unsafe and isn’t good enough for the “supposed world-class” airport.
“I’m fearful if I fall off the side I could actually topple off the edge of the device,” he said.
“I think it would be worrisomefor me if it was high wind or raining.
“I’m paralysed from the neck down so I’ve got no ability to straighten myself should I go off sideways.”
Advocacy for Inclusion general manager Christina Ryan said she would like Qantas to upgrade its equipment at the airport so all passengers boarded flights the same way.
“At Canberra Airport it is a bit provincial… it’s touted as an international airport but the truth is when you get here you’re likely to be on a smaller plane,” she said.
Although Qantas uses the lifts on some occasions at Sydney airport, Ms Ryan said it was less frequent since they introduced portable aerobridges to connect to small planes.
At Hobart airport earlier this month the airline replaced boarding stairs for QantasLink flights with a “mega ramp” taking all passengers right up to the door of the plane, an initiative she would like rolled out in Canberra.
“For a wheelchair user you’re the first person loaded on and you’re the last person loaded off… so you can have an extra half hour of travel to your fellow passengers,” she said.
“It’s quite a tiring process and it’s particularly hard if you’re changing planes to go on to another flight.”
On his most recent flight on a Qantas Boeing 717 from Brisbane in September, Mr Kerec was lowered on to the tarmac at 9pm on a clear night with one staffer by his side, but he dreads the thought of disembarking on a cold or wet night.
“Like a lot of quadriplegics the cold affects me very greatly… I start spasming,” he said.
“If I spasmed violently while on the scissor-type lift I could fall off it.”
People with Disabilities ACT CEO Robert Altamore said it could be argued that being forced to board via the high lift and feeling unsafe was a form of discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act.
“Canberra Airport has made huge developments, they should be addressing this issue,” he said.
“Canberra is missing out on huge tourism and corporate events in the disability sector because of its inability to have proper access at the airport and a workable wheelchair taxi scheme where the booking system works.”
A spokeswoman for the airport said special assistance for passengers who need it was the airlines’ responsibility, and special boarding and disembarking arrangements could be made at the time of booking.
A Qantas spokeswoman said wheelchair users were told when they book that “high lift vehicles” may be used to board and disembark aircraft at ports where aerobridges were unavailable.
At Canberra Airport the airline has access to three aerobridges used for passengers on Boeing 717 and 737 aircraft when available.
“Qantas aims to be the airline of choice for customers with specific needs, by providing a travel experience that is comfortable and hassle free, whilst ensuring the safety of passengers and Qantas staff,” she said.
“Qantas hopes to roll the ramps out to other airports in the country in the near future.”
Ms Ryan said many wheelchair users preferred to travel with Qantas as unlike some airlines there was no limitation on the number of wheelchair users per plane and they were more likely to be treated with respect by better trained staff.
Source: Canberra Times
