Access to air travel: guidance for disabled and less mobile passengers

Section 7: Aircraft design

The European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) has published guidance on making planes more accessible to disabled passengers. It is discussing with plane manufacturers the need to ensure future designs are fully accessible.

Wide-bodied planes, that have more than one aisle, should have an on-board wheelchair specially designed to be used within plane aisles and at least one toilet that is accessible to disabled passengers. Sometimes the airline is able to modify the doors to allow two toilet units to be used as one, if extra space is needed.

The passenger cabin should be equipped with handholds where necessary, colour/tonal contrast, non-slip flooring, non-glare lighting and easily visible signing. On many planes a number of aisle seats will have lifting armrests.

DPTAC will be working with the airline industry and disabled people on a specification for an accessible toilet to be used on new planes.

We will also be working with the industry and disabled people to make recommendations for on-board wheelchairs that are suitable for a wide variety of disabled people.

Published: 1 April 2003

• Air travel

Top of page