Regulation 1107/2006 and other passengers rights

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• Regulation 1107/2006 and other passengers rights
  Persons with reduced mobility in transport
• Stig Langvad
• EDF executive committee member
• DPOD chairperson
• UN CRPD committee member
• Member of Danish advisory board on civil aviation
  for PRMs

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Regulation 1107/2006

• A landmark victory for PRMs and the disability
  movement because it to some extent creates legal
  protection based on the right not to be
  discriminated
• There are some challenges to solve before the
  protection is guaranteed
• Obligations of airport authorities must be
  improved and implemented
• Obligations of airline companies must be
  improved, broadened and implemented
• Obligations of producers and designers of
  aeroplanes and other airline equipment must it be
  included
• Monitoring of implementation must be enforced by
  capable bodies at EU and national level

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Some critical issues

• Seating in the aircraft
• Work environment of staff
• Design of aircrafts
• Handling of mobility equipment
• Assistance dogs
• Medical oxygen
• Assistance on board
• Inform if needed on complaint procedures
• Insufficient number of staffs
• Montreal/ICAO
• TRAINING

• Denied boarding
• Accompanying persons
• Waiting time
• Proactive response to individual needs
• Accessibility of information
• Accessible booking
• Non medical approach
• Disability awareness
• Direct communication with/to passengers
• Same range of choice and access as other
  passengers
• Luggage or not

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Training

• Training is the key to good customer service and
  careful handling of mobility equipment and
  assistive devices
• Training is the key to overcome attitudinal
  barriers for disabled air passengers
• Training is the key for guaranteeing the
  effective implementation of all parts of the
  regulation
• Training is the most cost-efficient means for
  ensuring non-discrimination.
• Training must be undertaken in cooperation with
  the representative organisations.
• Training of selected staff with many obligations
  secures satisfactory service at airports
  organisation is not irrelevant

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Involvement of DPOs
The regulation exists to protect and promote the
rights of persons with disabilities and those
with reduced mobility This is why
representative organisation of persons with
disabilities and persons with reduced mobility
have to take a proactive part throughout the
implementation of the regulation Being involved
in any planning concerning organisation, training
etc is the best way to make sure that the
regulation will make a real difference in
practice for air passengers with disabilities and
PRMs. Ask those who knows!
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Responsibility and role of the NEBs
National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) interpret
their role and responsibilities very differently.
Some NEBs are (pro-)active whilst others
passively wait for complaints. Resources (human
and financial) and knowledge/expertise vary a
lot. Clear guidance coming from the EU
commission to NEBs is needed to ensure a
harmonised interpretation of the regulation and
smooth and non-discriminatory implementation in
practice. Application of penalties when there
are flagrant violations of the law. A more
transparent register of complaints must be
established, preferably at the European level.
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The regulation on rail passenger rights

• Regulation 1371/2007 does also include specific
  rights for persons with disabilities but not
  all provisions insurers equal protection for
  passengers with disabilities.
• Information must be available in accessible
  formats, websites must be adapted to W3C
  guidelines.
• Does not give sufficient protection in relation
  to international, national, regional and local
  railways and does not secure dignified seamless
  travel
• Necessary accompanying persons must be possible
  without additional costs of travellers with
  disabilities.
• DPOs must be involved when railways is defining
  quality standards for services and are providing
  disability specific training to staff.
• Assistance must be able to be booked at the same
  time and at no extra cost as ticket.
• Accessibility of infrastructure and rolling stock
  must be ensured with strict deadlines couple with
  the necessary European and National funding
  (revision of TSI PRM) and through a more
  democratic approach!

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Passenger rights in other modes of transport
Passengers rights in all its forms are
fundamental to secure freedom of movement across
the EU. Passengers rights have always been one
of the main issues of EDF because PWDs are not
having equal opportunities compared to others
across all modes of transport. There are many
situations of discrimination of PWDs. The
challenges across all modes of transport are very
similar. It is about having access without being
denied boarding, the right to bring necessary
equipment, accompanying persons etc, the right to
give and get accessible information, respect of
individual needs, writes across different modes
of transport through seamless transport
possibilities and involvement of DPOs in planning
and training. It is not just about having the
rights but also and perhaps much more about
implementation through capable and efficient
monitoring and close collaboration with the
representative DPOs. EDF is in the process of
elaborating toolkits relating to implementation
of the rights of persons with reduced
mobility/PWDs.

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Thank you for your attention!
info_at_edf-feph.org www.edf-feph.org