Earlier this month, Open Road Access hosted a groundbreaking webinar in collaboration with the Rights on Flights campaign, which brought together industry leaders, experts, and the disabled community to address pressing accessibility challenges in air travel. The virtual event explored opportunities for the aviation industry, with a particular focus on making air travel safer, more dignified, and accessible for all.
The webinar led by industry experts, including Christopher Wood MBE, Martyn Sibley, and David Dew-Veal, highlighted the urgent need for change, as current practices in assisting disabled air passengers often lead to unsafe and undignified experiences. Key issues discussed included damage to mobility aids, outdated legislation, and a lack of effective communication between airlines, airports, and passengers.
“This webinar served as an important platform to explore the most pressing challenges faced by the disabled community and the industry today,” said David Dew-Veal, co-founder of ORA.
Key Takeaways and Action Points
1. Staff Training is Critical
High-quality, consistent staff training was identified as a top priority, including respectful communication and safe handling of mobility aids such as wheelchairs.
2. Collaboration with the Disabled Community
Participants stressed the importance of engaging the disabled community to develop practical, effective solutions that meet real needs.
3. Innovation for Personalised Experiences
The event explored innovative ideas like dedicated wheelchair spaces on aircraft and seamless sharing of accessibility data across key stakeholders to enhance accessibility and personalisation in air travel.
Missed the Event? Watch the Recording
For those who couldn’t attend, the full recording of the webinar is now available on our website. Visit https://openroadaccess.co.uk/shape-the-future-of-air-travel-webinar/ to watch and learn how we can all work towards a more accessible future for air travel.
The webinar resulted in a community-driven roadmap to advocate for practical improvements within the aviation sector. This roadmap focuses on improving safety and comfort for disabled passengers, enhancing communication between airlines and airports, and driving greater accountability across the industry.
“As the aviation industry continues to recover and grow in a post-pandemic world, it is more important than ever that we ensure air travel is accessible, comfortable, and safe for everyone,” said David Dew-Veal. “The roadmap we’ve developed will help advocate for the changes needed to make this vision a reality.”
Open Road Access is on a mission to make travel more accessible. Discover more about Open Road Access on: