United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Ryanair in trouble over wheelchair charges
Ryanair is facing a discrimination lawsuit for charging disabled travellers to use its wheelchairs.
The action has been brought by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), which alleges that the £18 charge contravenes the Disability Discrimination Act. The act states that it is unlawful to treat disabled people less favourably than other people for a reason related to their disability.
A spokesperson for Ryanair told TravelMole: “Passengers that require a wheelchair are directed to a wheelchair service provider, and a fee is paid directly from the passenger to this provider, not to Ryanair”. The spokesperson couldn’t explain why other carriers at Stansted provided a wheelchair free of charge, but added that Ryanair believes that the airport authority should be responsible for providing wheelchairs beyond check-in.
BAA, which operates the airport, will also face the charges. A BAA spokesperson said: “We are surprised to have been included in the action. We do not charge disabled passengers for assistance they may require to get into the airport and up to the check-in desk, from where it is the airline’s responsibility”.
The DRC is acting on behalf of disabled passenger Bob Ross, who suffers from cerebral palsy and arthritis. Mr Ross said: “Unlike other airlines, I get charged £18 each way by Ryanair for the right to access the airport’s wheelchairs. A return flight with Ryanair from Stansted, costs me £36 more than other passengers”. Neither Buzz nor Go charge for use of wheelchairs at Stansted.
DRC chairman Bert Massie said: “They [Ryanair] can announce a 68% jump in profit, but they won’t make a comparatively tiny outlay to provide a basic service to disabled people. All other airlines, including budget and charter airlines, provide this service automatically”.
It would be difficult for Ryanair to justify charging for wheelchairs as a necessary cost cutting measure. In what has been a period of economic slow-down for most airlines, Ryanair has bucked the trend. The no-frills airline today announced a 37% increase in passenger numbers for August when compared to the same period last year. DRC’s Mr Massie refers to the 68% increase in Q1 profits announced by Ryanair on 6 August.
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision
JetBlue scraps London Gatwick flights