Accessibility praised at the South's airports
But a Civil Aviation Authority report says 'improvements' are needed elsewhere
Last updated 7th Aug 2024
A report's found accessibility at UK airports has improved - with Southampton among the airports being rated as "very good".
Bournemouth also received a 'good rating' from the Civil Aviation Authority, which says for the first time since 2020 no site has received a "poor" rating over the last year.
The aviation regular says there's still work to do to improve accessibility across the country.
The report ranked every UK airport with a passenger volume of more than 150,000 on their treatment of passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities.
Despite a greater demand for assistance services, 11 airports were rated "very good" for accessibility, 12 were rated "good", and only five were rated as "needs improvement", the CAA said.
The airports rated "very good" were:
- Newcastle
- Belfast City
- City of Derry
- Cornwall Newquay
- East Midlands
- Glasgow
- Glasgow Prestwick
- Leeds Bradford
- London Stansted
- Southampton
- Teesside
The airports receiving a "good" ranking were:
- Aberdeen
- Belfast International
- Birmingham
- Bournemouth
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Inverness
- London City
- London Luton
- Manchester
- Shetland's airport Sumburgh
- London Heathrow
Bristol, London Gatwick, Cardiff Wales, Liverpool and Norwich remained in the "needs improvement" category.
No airports were categorised as "poor" - the lowest category - for the first time since 2020.
Ronald Leitch, Chief Operating Officer at AGS Airports, operators of Southampton Airport said:
"We have committed significant investment and resource to ensure AGS continues to provide the highest level of assistance to passengers that require additional support.
"This has included investing in our facilities, delivering staff training and working with national charities, local access panels and our dedicated service providers to continually review our performance.
"We want everyone who travels through our airports to have a seamless journey so it is extremely pleasing and rewarding to see our efforts recognised by the CAA in this year’s accessibility report."
Initiatives that AGS has implemented across its airports to enhance service levels for passengers with reduced mobility and disabilities have included:
The CAA encouraged airports to increase staffing and invest in equipment during winter when demand for flights is lower.
Anna Bowles, head of consumer policy and enforcement at the authority, said: "Making aviation accessible to all is an important part of our work to protect the public and enable the aerospace sector.
"Progress is being made, and not rating any airports 'poor' this year is welcome, but there's more work to do, especially by those airports we have rated 'needs improvement' in our report.
"We will continue to work with the sector to ensure that standards are maintained and improved."
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: "Everyone has the right to travel with dignity, and it is clear that more needs to be done to make accessible and enjoyable flying a reality for everyone.
"I look forward to working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and industry on this important matter.
"I am pleased to see the Civil Aviation Authority's new airline performance framework, to ensure airlines are providing passengers with the best possible service when they fly and are working to improve accessibility of the sector."