Passenger demands BA apology for damaged wheelchair
A disabled woman is demanding an apology from British Airways after claiming her wheelchair was damaged at London City Airport.
Athena Stevens was due to fly from London to Glasgow but claims she was asked to leave the plane because there was no room for her wheelchair onboard.
She then discovered the £30,000 wheelchair had been so badly damaged she was unable to use it. According to a report in the Evening Standard, the 31-year-old has been left without a wheelchair since the incident last October.
She claims she has not heard from BA – although she has received a refund for her flight and £600 of taxi fares from the airport – or received an apology from London City. She is claiming compensation for the damage.
Stevens, who has cerebral palsy, claims she has spent thousands of pounds for additional support and taxis since she was deprived of the use of her wheelchair three months ago.
She is now claiming compensation for the damage to the chair, which she says is no longer being made.
A London City Airport spokesman told the Evening Standard: "The airport is working with the passenger and British Airways to resolve this matter.
"The situation is being dealt with by lawyers and we are therefore unable to provide further comment."
A British Airways spokesman told the newspaper: "We are working with the customer and London City Airport to resolve the issue.
"However, as the matter is now in the hands of lawyers it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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