---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mahesh Chandrasekar <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 30 Dec 2007 22:33
Subject: Free help to disabled can't be enforced
To: [log in to unmask]
30.12.07
Dear Friends,
Greetings,
This is a significant development and a new hurdle posed by The Federation
of Indian Airlines (FIA) — a joint body of Air India, Jet, Kingfisher,
Deccan, GoAir, IndiGo, Paramount and SpiceJet who have declared that 'Free
help to disabled can't be
enforced'<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Free_help_to_disabled_cant_be_enforced/articleshow/2661352.cms>
This is the response of the FIA towards the new Civil Aviation guidelines
that DGCA (Office of The Director General of Civil Aviation) for "Carriage
by Air of Disabled Persons or Persons with Reduced Mobility" that
establishes regulations for the protection of and provision of assistance to
persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility traveling by
air.
This guideline was to come into effect from 1st Jan 2008 and is meant to
protect passengers with disability and with reduced mobility against
discrimination and to ensure that they receive assistance with due respect
and dignity. But with this new stand by FIA - it looks like this deadline is
not going to be honoured.
Please read the following article that has been published in today's (30th
Dec 2007) Times of India on this new challenge.
*We need to joint together, mobilize greater resources and oppose this new
hurdle posed *
*'Free help to disabled can't be
enforced'*<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Free_help_to_disabled_cant_be_enforced/articleshow/2661352.cms>
Times of India 30th Dec 2007
NEW DELHI: The government's first attempt to regulate pricing policy of
airlines could come to naught and add to the costs of physically challenged
passengers.
Following several complaints from disabled rights groups, the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had about a month back issued a draft civil
aviation requirement (CAR) on the subject. Among other things, it asked
airlines to mandatorily provide free assistance to such passengers. The rule
was to go into effect from January 1.
While most airlines currently provide wheelchairs, stretchers and ambulifts
free, they have strongly opposed making the free service compulsory. The
Federation of Indian Airlines — a joint body of Air India, Jet, Kingfisher,
Deccan, GoAir, IndiGo, Paramount and SpiceJet — has said that the industry
must be free to recover any extra cost that's incurred in the process of
providing assistance to handicapped passengers.
Saying airlines are aware of their responsibilities towards physically
challenged passengers, FIA has submitted its reply to the CAR to the
ministry and DGCA.
"FIA believes that the issue of costs and cost-recovery for such special
facilities cannot be mandated through the CAR. In our consultation with
members, all carriers have expressed their strong opposition to airlines
being denied the right to charge and recover costs for service provided," it
said.
It goes on to add: "No other passengers are provided services free of
charge. Any additional service should necessarily come at a charge to the
passenger using the service, else the increased costs will need to be borne
by the other airline passengers which is unfair. Airlines should be allowed
to independently decide the charges, which certainly should be communicated
clearly to passengers."
It has pointed out that the earlier CAR of July, 2005, allows airlines to
charge for any additional service provided to passengers with special needs.
The new CAR stipulated that no airline would refuse to carry persons on a
stretcher if they are accompanied by an escort who would look after them in
flight. While FIA agrees to this, it says: "However, the carriage must be
paid for. For example, a stretcher requires displacing nine seats that would
otherwise be sold as revenue. It must be clear that these seats must be
reserved in advance and paid for."
Similarly, the new rules say that all airlines must provide assistance to
persons with disabilities/reduced mobility from the departing airport
terminal to the destination airport terminal without any additional charge.
"The Airlines strongly disagree with this statement. It is one thing to
provide service, another to do it for free. No other passengers are provided
free-of-charge services," the FIA has said.
Asked about this stand, a member airline of FIA said that most carriers
provide these services free of charge and may even continue to do so. "But
the decision to charge or provide assistance free must be the commercial
decision of airlines. It can't be legally mandated," he said. This is not
the first time airlines are spurning government's moves on influencing their
charges. While the aviation ministry strongly opposed the term "congestion
surcharge", airlines continue to levy it.
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Source:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Free_help_to_disabled_cant_be_enforced/articleshow/2661352.cms
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C. Mahesh
Advocacy Coordinator
CBR Forum
14, CK Garden
Wheeler Road Extension
Bangalore - 560 084
Tel - 080- 2549 7387 or 2549 7388
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Anita Ghai
Reader
Department Of Psychology
Jesus and Mary College
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