Disabilities group hits out at Aer Lingus

AER LINGUS is in breach of European airline guidelines by insisting that passengers with disabilities produce medical proof of their condition.

According to the Rehab Group, Aer Lingus has signed up to the European Voluntary Airline Passenger Service Commitment, but is failing to abide by it. The organisation yesterday called on Transport Minister Martin Cullen to fully implement the Service Commitment before privatisation of the airline occurs.

Rehab Group’s director of public affairs, Angela Kerins, called for an immediate end to the requirement that passengers with learning disabilities, psychiatric illnesses and specific physical disabilities, must submit a medical certificate signed by a doctor before they are allowed to travel.