Region’s main airports recognised for their accessibility standards
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has been awarded the top ‘Very Good’ rating for accessibility by the Civil Aviation Authority CAA, while Manchester Airport has improved its performance during the year.
The latest CAA statistics for 2022/23 rated 26 UK airports on their accessibility for disabled and less mobile passengers.
Rankings were judged as Very Good, being the best, down to, Good, Needs Improvement, and Poor.
Sixteen were rated Very Good for all four quarters of the annual review, including Liverpool, which also topped the latest 2022 Which? UK Airport survey in recognition of its high levels of customer satisfaction.
Manchester was judged as Poor in the first quarter of the report, Needs Improvement in the second quarter. and Very Good for the second half.
The CAA report said Manchester delivered significant improvements in wait times for arriving disabled and less mobile passengers.
It said: “In our Interim Report, we noted that an unacceptable number of disabled and less mobile passengers missed flights in the spring and summer of 2022. This number has reduced significantly. These improvements were made despite the challenges created by the percentage of disabled and less mobile passengers as a proportion of all passengers using the airport increasing by 30% compared to 2019.
“We are pleased to report that Manchester has invested heavily in recruitment and equipment, with a 40% increase in staffing and a 20% increase in high-lift vehicles since summer 2022.
“In addition, Manchester has made changes to its security lanes to improve the experience of disabled passengers through the departures journey, such as providing a separate lane for families which allows the assistance lane to be used exclusively by disabled and less mobile passengers.”
It added: “Renovations at Terminal 2 have included wider corridors so that electric buggies can be used in more areas which provides a better experience for passengers arriving on flights with high numbers of passengers who request assistance.”
LJLA said the latest CAA report reflects the work the airport and its passenger assistance provider, ABM, have carried out in partnership with a host of disability organisations who provide advice and support, including many that specialise in hidden disabilities.
As well as working closely with a number disability organisations, including Autism Adventures, Thred Dementia Support, The Brain Charity, Stomawise, Thomas Pocklington Trust and the Spinal Injuries Association, the airport also invites families and individuals with a disability to the site to take them through the passenger journey and experience passing through the airport to help build their confidence.
Paul Staples, LJLA operations director, said: “To have consistently been rated as offering the highest level of service for passengers who need assistance throughout the past 12 months is something we are all very proud of and reflects our faster, easier, friendlier approach to the customer experience for all our passengers, whether able bodied or if they require assistance due to a disability or other need.”
