Europe’s leading low fares airline announces policy change on vision impaired passengers

D.N.I.S. News Network – Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, has announced that following a consultation with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (N.C.B.I.) the airline will change its policy on vision impaired passengers.

Once approved by the Irish Aviation Authority (I.A.A.), vision impaired passengers, who are travelling with a sighted companion, on a one to one basis, will no longer be required to pre-advise Ryanair and will not be included in the aircraft safety limit of four reduced mobility passengers per flight, according a release posted on the company’s website.

Des Kenny, Chief Executive of the National Council of the Blind of Ireland (N.C.B.I.) praised Ryanair for its latest initiative saying:

“Ryanair are to be congratulated for taking the lead in improving what has been a problematic area for vision impaired passengers when flying. It is also a major step forward for the European Aviation industry as a whole and I hope that other airlines will follow Ryanair’s example.”

Ryanair’s Head of Customer Services, Caroline Green, announcing details of the policy change said: “The change follows an incident where a group of vision-impaired passengers were not able to travel because the aircraft safety limit for reduced mobility passengers was exceeded.”

“This policy change will increase the number of vision impaired customers able to travel with us, as the aircraft safety restriction will not apply when a vision impaired passenger is travelling with a sighted companion on a one to one basis. However, vision impaired passengers travelling alone remain part of the safety limit of 4 reduced mobility passengers per flight and will still be required to inform us in advance on their condition or special assistance requirements so that we may continue to provide them with priority services,” he added.