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Protestors accuse AirAsia of discrimination
KUALA LUMPUR – Budget carrier Air Asia has faced a protest over its policy of restricting access to its flights by disabled and wheelchair-bound travellers.
The weekend protest at Kuala Lumpur’s low-cost terminal (LCCT) called on AirAsia to review its policies and ensure that facilities and services provided at its LCCT were non-discriminatory.
The protest leader, Christine Lee, said unlike Kuala Lumpur
international airport, the LCCT does not incorporate aerobridges that allow easier access to planes by wheelchair-bound passengers.
Lee said passengers booking online were asked if they needed “special assistance”.
“If you clicked ‘yes’, then you won’t be able to proceed with your booking,” she said.
Lee also claimed that AirAsia charged RM12 for renting out a wheelchair which a passenger could use to go to and from the ticketing counter to the departure lounge.
“One would then have to go from the deperture lounge to the aircraft without the wheelchair, which is absurd.”
In 2002, Irish budget carrier Ryanair faced a disability discrimination lawsuit in the UK after charging a disabled passenger £18 for use of a wheelchair. The court ruled in the passenger’s favour and Ryanair quickly introduced a 33p wheelchair levy to all airfares to cover the cost of wheelchairs.
Ian Jarrett
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