Freewheelers face a bumpy ride at airports

Kolkata: Better late than never. This must be the resolution for the airline companies before charging passengers for misusing the wheelchair facility meant for the sick and the physically-challenged at airports.
Airline companies have for a long time complained of passengers unnecessarily occupying wheelchairs at airports when they don’t need them. There are reports of passengers faking ill-health to take advantage of the service and the number of such cases is high during any security alert or flight delay.
“Women often pretend that they have undergone abdominal surgeries, and have someone else carry their cabin luggage,” said an official from a domestic carrier. Reasons for availing of the advantage are many. First, wheelchair passengers do not have to stand in long queues for security checks. Second, they don’t have to undertake the long, tedious walk in the lounge area. Third, they are helped on board before other passengers and are spared from carrying their cabin luggage.
Air-India charges Rs 500 per leg of a journey to specifically ward off the misuse of such services. Air Deccan has started charging Rs 200 per leg to curb the practice.
27/04/07 Madhumita Mookerji/Daily News & Analysis

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Categories: Airports Apr 2007, General Aviation Apr 2007