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New laws will safeguard disabled travellers

07/12/2007

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New laws set to come into force next year will put much more onus on travel agents to look after the needs for their disabled customers.

The new European Union laws will introduce a set of stiff sanctions for firms who are deemed to have failed in their duty to disabled passengers.

These will include a fine of £5,000 for failing to notify airlines of the passenger's disability within 48 hours of their taking a flight, TravelWeekly reports.

Lawyer Jack Harding said: "Tour operators and travel agents will have to examine what they're doing very carefully.

"It will no longer be appropriate to take a passive stance and wait for the disabled passenger to inform the operator of his special requests."

A law passed earlier this year made it illegal for travel agents, tour operators and airlines to refuse a booking from a customer with a disability.

The only circumstances under which this rule does not apply is if the booking could lead to a breach of health and safety rules or if it would prove physically impossible.

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