Two window seats to be reserved for disabled in airlines

To make air travel comfortable and easier for disabled people, the civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to reserve two window seats for them. Airlines have also been ordered to train their staff to deal with such passengers nicely.

Addressing several complaints by disabled passengers, the ministry has also ordered the airlines to deliver check-in baggage to disabled passengers either at a ladder point or exit end of the escalator belt.
"The airlines have been asked to block two window seats till 24 hours of the flight for disabled people, provided these seats are not next to the door of the emergency exit," said a civil aviation ministry note.
Airlines have also been asked compensate such passengers if any of their assistive equipment is damaged during flight.
Pradeep Raj, an international athlete with disability, however, said that the civil aviation ministry should also monitor implementation of these norms.
"Window seats and delivery of luggage are great initiatives, but the government should also strictly implement these norms. Currently, flying for us is neither easy due to the insensitive treatment meted out to us, nor is the procedure to claim compensation," said Raj, who has got a national youth award from the President and is general secretary of the Association for Disabled People.
In 2012, the civil aviation ministry had formed a committee headed by joint secretary G Ashok Kumar to suggest ways to improve facilities for physically disabled and specially-abled fliers. The committee was forced after an incident, where a cerebral-palsy afflicted woman, was not allowed to board a flight.
(Image: Indiatimes)