The right to travel by air of persons with disabilities

Travel by air for persons with disabilities (PWDs) can be challenging. Their problems range from physical barriers in airports and aircraft to inaccessible information, extra fees for services, insufficient compensation for their mobility aids and different rules and practices among air carriers. This study explores issues facing PWDs from a legal perspective. The aim of this study is to balance the rights of PWDs with the duties of States, airport operators and air carriers. In light of this, multilevel legislations - namely international, regional and national rules from human rights law and aviation law - are compared, contrasted and analyzed. The study is primarily focused on access to air travel and remedial measures, for their lack of equal access for PWDs and for discrimination on the basis of disability. Suggestions have been addressed to the International Civil Aviation Organization, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to States. All parties should ensure that accessibility standards on air travel, and an interpretation of remedial measures, are consistently applied.