Approximately 1.3 billion people, or one in six globally, experience some form of disability (WHO), according to Airports Council International (ACI) World Director General Justin Erbacci. In light of this, the International Partners for Aviation Development, Innovation and Sustainability (iPADIS) has “published a Model Policy and Guidance on Accessibility (MPGA) in support of its extensive efforts to promote inclusion and accessibility in air travel for persons with disabilities.”
According to iPADIS, “persons with disabilities face significant challenges due to poor culture of inclusion and lack of awareness in many countries and societies around the world. Significant barriers to mobility in air travel include the lack of enabling infrastructure, as well as harmonised accessibility regulations, procedures and best practices.”
The goal of the MPGA is “to assist governments and stakeholders in optimising their regulations, operations and services to meet the needs of the disabled community. It incorporates applicable international treaties, standards and recommended practices, pacesetting national regulations, industry best practices, as well as views from the disabled community.”
The MPGA “complements the groundbreaking iPADIS Accessibility Evaluation and Promotion for Air Travel and Tourism (ACCEPT) Programme that helps government authorities, and air travel and tourism related organizations to evaluate their regulations and procedures in comparison with global operational standards, guidelines and best practices.” It also offers guidance in “addressing policy, regulatory, systemic and operational challenges in all elements of the “door-to-door” value/supply chain of the journey, and in facilitating the seamless flow of passengers requiring accessibility assistance.”
Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, former ICAO President and Founding President of iPADIS said: “iPADIS strongly believes that the aviation industry’s long-term sustainability and continued acceptability depends on the sector being sensitive to its social responsibility and responsive to the needs of all users.”
Dr. Aliu expressed his pleasure that iPADIS is able to “promote and support the development of enabling policies and harmonized regulations and procedures to ensure that all persons with disabilities, including a rapidly aging population, have access to the same opportunities for travelling for business or pleasure as any other passenger, anywhere in the world.”