Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on the ease of disabled people using air transport.

The Department for Transport published the Aviation Consumer Policy Reform Consultation in 2022 to seek views on consumer rights issues, including additional powers for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to enforce rights such as the power to fine, and reforms to the compensation available for damage to wheelchairs and mobility aids on domestic UK flights. It also looked at whether there are any other reforms that could be considered to assist passengers with accessibility needs. Responses are being analysed and next steps will be set out in due course.

The Department regularly meets with interest and campaign groups and welcomes their input in improving the consumer rights framework.

Departmental officials also meet regularly with the CAA to discuss consumer issues, including accessibility, and the Department and the CAA have written to the industry, including all major airlines and UK airports, to set clear expectations on support for disabled and less mobile passengers.

The CAA is responsible for enforcing consumer laws, including those relating to accessibility. It monitors airport accessibility performance annually against its performance framework and will publish its usual report this summer. The CAA published an additional interim report in December 2022, highlighting areas of good practice as well as airports requiring improvement. It has also published a consultation on a performance framework for airlines.