Glasgow Airport receives the highest rating of “very good” from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for disability access. The CAA has published its fourth annual report on the disability access of the UK’s largest airports, spanning a 12-month reporting period of 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019. The CAA’s accessibility framework is a world-first and is driving improvements in performance to help improve accessibility across UK airports.
To achieve a ‘very good’ classification, airports most provide high quality support on the day of travel to passengers who require additional assistance as well as keeping in regular contact and consultation with its users. In total, there were a record number of 3.7 million requests for assistance at UK airports in the latest year – a rise of over 80 per cent since 2010.
The CAA praised Glasgow Airport for its “significant investment and good management oversight driving its everyday performance.” The report stated Glasgow had met the CAA’s waiting time standard for 99.9% of arriving disabled and less mobile passengers over the year and 85% of respondents rated Glasgow’s assistance service as good or excellent.
Both Aberdeen International and Southampton airports, which are also owned and managed by AGS Airports, also received the highest rating of “very good.”
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports which owns and manages Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports, said: “It’s extremely important that anyone who requires additional support feels confident to travel knowing they can expect a comfortable and seamless journey through our airports. Over the course of the past year we have continued to invest in staff training and in further improving our facilities. This has included the opening of Changing Places toilets in both Aberdeen and Glasgow airports to support passengers with complex health care needs.
“Together with our dedicated service providers, we regularly engage with local access panels and national charities to discuss how we can continually enhance the service we provide. For all of our airports to receive a rating of ‘very good’ from the CAA is a clear indication that our efforts are well placed and, more importantly, passengers are seeing the benefits of our investment.”
