政府承诺，残障乘客乘飞机时将获得更好的保障，包括防止轮椅受损以及受过培训的工作人员提供支持。
Disabled passengers will have better safeguards when flying, the government has pledged, including protection from damaged wheelchairs and support from trained staff.
一份由行业主导的无障碍组织发布的报告称，虽然“还有很多工作要做”，但进展正在取得。此前，由塔尼·格雷-汤普森领导的一项审查在一年前要求采取行动，以改善航空旅行，此举是对众多乘客因缺乏帮助而被遗留无援的事件的回应。
A report from an industry-led accessibility group said there was “much more to be done” but progress was being made, a year after a review led by Tanni Grey-Thompson demanded action to improve air travel in response to numerous incidents in which passengers had been left stranded without assistance.
交通部表示，机场已增加员工培训，并建立了一套新的标准化系统，以帮助航空公司处理移动辅助设施。此举是在2024年有超过1000辆轮椅在运输过程中受损之后采取的，相当于每月超过80辆。
The Department for Transport said airports had added more staff training and a new standardised system has been set up to prepare airlines for handling mobility aids, after more than 1,000 wheelchairs were damaged in transit in 2024, equivalent to more than 80 a month.
尽管根据一个行业机构的数据，近五分之一的残障乘客仍对其航空旅行体验不满意，且对帮助的需求持续增加。
Almost one in five disabled passengers are still dissatisfied with their air travel experience though, according to an industry body, and requests for assistance are continuing to rise.
政府计划取消对丢失和损坏轮椅的赔偿最高限额，并赋予航空监管机构新的权力，以在乘客未获得所需旅行援助时对航空公司和机场处以罚款。
The government is planning to remove the maximum payout in compensation for lost and damaged wheelchairs, and to give the aviation regulator new powers to fine airlines and airports when passengers are not given the assistance they need to travel.
这些变化预计将包含在正在议会推进的民航法案中，政府表示该法案将为航空乘客提供更强的保护和消费者权益。
The changes are expected to be in the civil aviation bill which is progressing through parliament and which the government said would give air passengers stronger protection and consumer rights.
交通部长海迪·亚历山大表示：“人们必须能够尊严且安心地乘飞机。对于残障乘客而言，这意味着不必担心他们的轮椅是否能完好无损地返回，或工作人员是否会在机场为他们提供支持。”
The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “People must be able to fly with dignity and peace of mind. For disabled passengers this means not worrying about their wheelchair coming back in one piece, or whether staff will be there to support them around the airport.
“我们一直在支持行业全面改革员工培训，防止对行动辅助器具造成损坏，并为乘客在起飞前分享关键信息创造轻松、简单的方式。”
“We’ve backed industry to overhaul staff training, prevent damage to mobility aids and create easy, simple ways for passengers to share key information before they fly.”
航空无障碍实施小组的联合主席表示：“还有大量工作要做，但我们已经有了一个良好的开端。我们现在的重点将放在落实更多所需的变革上，以便残障人士能够满怀自信和尊严地乘机。”该小组正在评估落实格雷-汤普森（Grey-Thompson）报告中19项建议的进展情况。英国航空公司游说集团（Airlines UK）首席执行官蒂姆·阿尔德斯拉德（Tim Alderslade）表示，需要协助的乘客人数同比增长了近10%。
The co-chairs of the aviation accessibility implementation group, which is assessing progress on the 19 recommendations in Grey-Thompson’s report, said: “There is much more to be done, but we have made a positive start. We will be focusing now on embedding more of the changes that are needed to enable disabled people to fly with confidence and dignity.”The chief executive of lobby group Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade, said the number of passengers requiring assistance was up nearly 10% year on year.
他说：“82%的乘客表示对航空旅行体验感到满意，这证明了航空公司为那些在乘机时需要额外支持的乘客所做出的努力和取得的进展。”
“82% report that they are satisfied with their air travel experience which demonstrates the efforts and progress airlines are making for those who require additional support when they fly,” he said.