House of Lords

Speaker Biograghy: Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett of Brightside and Hillsborough in the City of Sheffield has been Chair of the Easyjet Special Assistance Advisory Group since May 2012. The group was set up to give Easyjet strategic advice and practical guidance on the evolving needs of passengers requiring special assistance, as well as reviewing, challenging and improving Easyjet’s policies and procedures. Under David's guidance and supervision, the group recently published the Pan-European Charter on Meeting the Needs of Disabled Air Travellers. The charter is based on lessons learned from the work of the Easyjet’s Special Assistance Advisory Group, which consists of external experts on access to air travel for disabled people and Easyjet representatives. The document contains recommendations for airlines, airports and policymakers on how to make travelling between countries and airports easier and more consistent for PRM passengers.


Day 1 - 15 March
Session:
Ageing Population & PRMs


12:00 - 13:30 - PANEL DISCUSSION: Airports and airlines coping with ever-growing demand for assistance as Regulation (EC)1107/2006 turns 10 years old
Synopsis: Presentation of the EU and international regulatory framework for air passengers, notably passengers with disabilities, how it came about and how it is applied. Discussion of challenges with application and enforcement, and practical problems in EU member states. Discussion of Commission initiatives to improve PRM passenger protection with focus on future action (accessibility, intermodal, further guidance). The experience of a long-haul operator having to comply with different legislations. An airline's unique promotion of access to air travel with ad-hoc sessions simulating enplanement and the on board experience. ACI role in creating and promoting best practice among its members. Operational and legal challenges European airports face in their day-to-day operations. The experience of ESAAG translating best practice into real enhancement of the passenger experience. The impact of user-driven advice on the operations of an LCC. Challenges PRM service providers face in their day-to-day operations, and how innovation helps them improve service quality.

Audience will learn: