DISABLED TRAVELLERS: PERSONS WITH REDUCED MOBILITY

EU Regulation 1107/2006 regarding Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs) was officially adopted and published in the Official Journal on 26 July 2006. Responsibility for handling PRMs lies with airports who have a right to recharge airlines by levying a charge on all passengers using that airport. Airlines will pay according to their own total passenger numbers. The Regulation provides for a consistent approach to be adopted at all airports with no right of opt out by individual airlines. It comes into force in two stages – the rules relating to refusal to accept a reservation on 26 July 2007, and full implementation by 26 July 2008. The Regulation is directly applicable in all EU Member States.

ABTA’s Position

ABTA has supported the proposal that all passengers should share the costs of handling PRMs, rather than the costs being borne by the airlines carrying those passengers or by the PRMs themselves. ABTA represents ECTAA on the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) PRM group and has been involved in negotiations with the EC. We are also in discussion with the Department for Transport (DfT) over the proposed enforcement and penalties regime for the UK. Each Member State is left to implement its own regime and we are keen to ensure a level of harmonisation. ABTA is working with the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and the Charter Airline Group to ensure that the trade adopts a consistent approach in communicating with the public, and with DfT to discuss proposals for sanctions and enforcement under the new regulations.

Last updated: 8 April 2008