AirAsia: Now not everyone can fly
I knew about the fact that AirAsia doesn’t use the sky-bridges at the airports (except at the KLIA) before but it never cross my mind that such a missing ‘frill’ would cause so much difficulty to special group of people whom we always make sure their needs are taken care of whenever and wherever they go… the disabled folks.
The very first time I used AirAsia flying from Kota Bharu to Kuala Lumpur, I asked the airport staff why the passengers were not using the sky-bridges when there were such facilities available. The answer was pretty straight forward. Tony Fernandez decided not to use the sky-bridges at other airports in the country because the lowcost airline will have to pay for the service every time they use the sky-bridges. I am not sure how much AirAsia or other alrlines have to pay for using sky-bridges but I am sure using such a service would not cost that much to airlines.
So at that time, I just accepted the fact that I would have had to walk from the terminal under the scorching sun to reach the Boeing 737 used by AirAsia then. Little did I realized how much difficulty that had caused to a disabled person, until I read a Malaysiakini report today.
A coalition of 18 disabled group had protested against AirAsia over what they called a discriminatory policy of not accepting a completely disabled person on board of their aircrafts just because of their low cost business model.
I now certainly feel very strongly against AirAsia’s policy of not using sky-bridges which is actually a very basic facility not only for the benefits of disabled people but also elderly people, my mum and grandma included.
I hope the Malaysian Government would use all avenue of power bestowed upon them to compel AirAsia to make use of sky-bridges facility across the country, giving opportunity to people from all walks of life to low cost travel. Until that is done, sorry to say that now not everyone can fly. What say you Mr Fernandez?
Read [Color-Blind blog]
[tags]AirAsia, disabled, Tony Fernandez[/tags]
4 Comments
In the first place the LCCT shouldn’t exist. KLIA is well equipped but deserted and resembles sometimes a ghost airport. Chan Kong Choy’s decision to have the LCCT is highly suspicious. The LCCT is 22 miles from KLIA. This distance is almost similar between Don Muang and Suvarnabhum airports in Bangkok causing massive inconvenience and disruption to passengers. You should campaign hard to shut down LCCT. It may benefit Air Asia but it sure the hell inconveniences passengers like you and me.
CJCM: (Comments edited) I don’t think they will shut down LCCT anytime soon anyway. Not the way AirAsia is expanding.
Thank you for highlighting this issue in your blog. All we are asking for is equal access – that Air Asia provides the same to disabled persons what they provide to non-disabled persons.
sabtu lepas aku ke sandakan menaiki airasia. memang betul golongan yang menggunakan wheelchair tidak mempunyai keistimewaan dalam struktur kapal terbang airasia tetapi kakitangan air asia tetap memberikan pertolongan yang sangat baik kepada golongan kurang bernasib baik ini.
perlajanan kk-sandakan dan sandakan-kk tidak sukar bagiku kerana aku tidak perlu beratur. express boarding. tapi kakitangan airasia tetap memberikan keutamaan kepada pengguna wheelchair. syabas airasia! belajar dari kesilapan…
CJCM: AirAsia staff are actually nice bunch of people. Really helpful especially for the elderly who required wheel chair. My experience with mum and grandma 3 weeks ago shows that AirAsia are very helpful. However, people had negative impressions because AirAsia flights always delay but this is beyond the staff control. So when there are too many delays… the poor staff had to face the customers while the management were sitting in their aircond rooms looking at their share prices.
Just like to point out the following:
http://euobserver.com/9/24535?rss_rk=1
EU forbids airlines to discriminate against disabled and elderly
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – People with reduced mobility should get the same access to air travel as other passengers, according to new EU rules set to come into effect on Thursday (26 July).
Under anti-discrimination legislation, airlines and tour operators will be forbidden to refuse passengers on the basis of reduced mobility, unless “duly justified” by safety reasons.
Moreover, starting from next summer (26 July 2008), the disabled or elderly will be entitled to receive free-of-charge assistance in all European airports as well as on board planes taking off in the EU.
People with reduced mobility make up around ten percent of the bloc’s 492 million population. According to the European Commission, this category of ageing population will grow further.
As the EU’s key regulator, the Commission acknowledges that some airlines and airports already provide the services prescribed by the regulation, but it wants to ensure they are provided freely, everywhere. EU member states and the European Parliament agreed the new rules last year.
“The phasing-in of these rules, starting tomorrow, will put an end to discrimination and give disabled and elderly passengers the help they need,” transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said.
The list of responsibilities on behalf of airports and airlines – for which they will have to bear costs – includes providing the relevant infrastructure for disabled passengers as well as carriage for wheelchairs and guide dogs.
For their part, EU member states will be obliged to set up control authorities to guard over the enforcement of the new measures. Passengers should be able to send complaints if they are rejected or ignored by airlines and airports to these new authorities.
It will be up to European capitals to decide what type of penalties the air transport companies should face for breaking these EU rules.
Prior to their adoption, some airlines – mainly low-cost carriers, complained that the legislation would entail extra costs, which would be reflected in the price of all passenger tickets. They also pointed out that there should be limits to the number of disabled passengers on board for practical reasons.