08.01.2008
New and improved disability service

In future, European passengers with disabilities must be able to travel on the same terms as everybody else. For this reason, the EU has decided to implement standardised conditions for disabled persons in all European airports to come into force on 26 July, 2008. To meet these regulatory requirements, Copenhagen Airport is working together with airlines and disability organisations to plan new and improved services for disabled persons.

On 26 July, Copenhagen Airport will introduce a new and improved service for travellers with disabilities. This is a result of regulatory requirements implemented following the decision by the EU that all citizens should have equal access to travel.

Improved and expanded disability service

So far, the airlines flying out of Copenhagen Airport have provided services to disabled persons through their handling companies, which meant that what these travellers were offered varied greatly from one airline to the next. The new service for disabled persons that Copenhagen Airport will be offering in cooperation with an external partner will be the same for all passengers, regardless of airline or travel agency. Also, this service will be improved in several areas.

“We are designing a service for disabled persons that complies with the new regulations while also improving and expanding the service we offer passengers with disabilities. Among other things, Copenhagen Airport will assist passengers all the way through the airport: from their point of arrival, i.e. the Metro or train station or car park, and until travellers are in their seats on the aircraft, or the other way around. This means that travellers with disabilities will receive assistance with handling baggage and checking in, things which other passengers do as a matter of course. Knowing that help is available at the airport will help passengers feel safer and more secure,” says Henrik Peter Jørgensen, chief operating officer for Copenhagen Airports A/S.        

Developed in cooperation with disability organisations

Copenhagen Airport is working closely together with Danish disability organisations to put together a new disabled-passenger service so that the new service will provide disabled travellers with the help they need.

According to Stig Langvad, chairman of the Danish Council of Organisations of Disabled People, the new service for disabled people will make it easier and safer to be a passenger with a disability at Copenhagen Airport.

“Copenhagen Airport has done a good job taking on this new challenge of ensuring improved assistance to disabled air travellers. In a positive dialogue with the disability organisations, the airport has found solutions that ensure good contact with airport staff, good conditions for parking and access, and a well-organised offer of services for travellers with disabilities,” Langvad explains.

After the new disability service is introduced, it will be regularly evaluated and revised if necessary.

To travel is to live

The disability organisations have offered their advice on locations of meeting places to be established at central points of arrival at the airport, such as the Metro and train stations, the car parks and the taxi drop-off zones. After arrival at a meeting point, disabled travellers can notify the airport, after which, according to the new regulations, they must be offered assistance within half an hour if they booked assistance in advance. If no booking has been made, the airport must assist the passenger within one hour.    

“There is no doubt that it will be easier and better to be a disabled traveller at Copenhagen Airport come the summer of 2008. We are all looking forward to that. As Hans Christian Andersen said, ‘To travel is to live’ – also when you’re disabled,” says Langvad.

Copenhagen Airport expects that roughly 100,000 disabled passengers a year will avail themselves of the new service, which will be offered starting 26 July 2008. As before, passengers should book the service through their airline or travel agency when they book their tickets.