There are approximately 2 million flights per year that arrive or depart the UK and 1.5% of all these passengers could be disabled people.  

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson writes in the foreword to the report that, while many journeys occur perfectly well, there are still too many gaps and poor experiences. One poor experience can create obstacles for future travel or stop someone flying altogether. 

The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group (AATFG) was established by the Department for Transport (DfT) to bring together industry, consumer representatives and the sector regulator (CAA), to help drive improvements in aviation accessibility for Disabled passengers. The AATFG’s remit was to:

• assess existing and emerging evidence on key issues and barriers to air travel for Disabled passengers, and identify priority focus areas for the AATFG to address during its term
• develop practical and achievable actions (short, medium and long-term) in these priority focus areas to facilitate improvements that can be implemented by industry, and where appropriate, by the government or regulator
• consider the most effective mechanism for implementing actions and evaluating their impact

Following the first meeting of the AATFG on 20 November 2024, the members agreed on 5 key focus areas:

• training
• passenger information and communication
• non-visible impairments
• mobility aid design and handling
• tailored support and delivery

This article will highlight the key lessons for training. 

To read the full report and recommendations click here.

The AATFG considered the current landscape of legislation and guidance on training, before identifying key areas that could build on the existing framework to strengthen and standardise training across the industry.  This led to five recommendations for training to be improved, two of which we focus on here:

1. Mandate baseline disability and accessibility awareness training

While training should be proportionate and appropriate to each role, airports and airlines should ensure all personnel receive essential baseline disability and accessibility awareness training. This could be achieved through a requirement for such training to be a condition for obtaining an airport pass and/or included in airport contract terms.

2. Co-develop training materials with people with lived experience

Industry should incorporate input from Disabled people when developing training materials, ensuring they reflect real-world challenges and solutions. The materials could include, for example, videos and testimonials to bring personal perspectives to life and enhance understanding.

CIHT welcomes these recommendations as they support recommendations from CIHT’s report Creating a Public Realm for All.

CIHT has undertaken work to deliver disability and accessibility awareness training through CIHT Learn.  A number of these courses has been co-cultivated with people with lived experience.  See below

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Creating a Public Realm For All

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Designing highways and transportation for blind and partially sighted people

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Designing highways and transportation for people with dementia

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Understanding disability

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