Airlines do not want to accommodate people with disability; it would be too much effort for them.
On the 26th of August this year, I collaborated with the ABC on a report about airline accessibility that highlighted the struggles and restrictions that people with disability encounter in relation to airline travel.
For the majority of my adult life, flying has been unattainable for me because of the airlines’ lack of resources and willingness to adapt. Through my extensive and relentless research, I have been unfortunately informed, that no single airline has both a hoist and the capacity to cater for my personal requirements and my wheelchair.
Over the years I have explored options to travel to Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast and Brisbane (I even wanted to move there) but the only city it was possible to find an option for, was Sydney because it is a layover for international flights and therefore hosts larger planes. The only glimmer of hope I felt was upon discovering that Qantas had a hoist available for my transfers and Jetstar had a cargo door big enough to fit my wheelchair. However regardless of being sister companies, they did not want to share the equipment, for reasons I am still unaware of today.
Despite the Australian government’s 2024 release of the ‘Aviation White Paper – Towards 2050”, which stipulates inclusivity requirements for airlines, there is still no notable action or significant demonstration of inclusion for people with disability. Airlines do the bare minimum to look compliant and adhere with anti-discrimination laws.
It almost feels like that irrespective of industry standards, there is always an exception or a way to work around them which consequently leaves people with disability at a loss. For example, for modern buildings it is a requirement to be accessible but for heritage listed buildings it remains optional, therefore preventing access for people with disability. So when airline standards are meant to be set next year, I know for sure that companies will find loopholes to not follow them.
Ultimately, nothing is changing for me and the thousands of other people with disability who dream about being able to travel via plane. Think about how many people with disability you typically see on a plane. Now think about how easy it would be for a person who requires a wheelchair, to access the toilet on a plane.
I know that some people would challenge this notion and argue that there are alternative options to airline travel; how about catching a train?
But my rebuttal would be this. If you were given the option to spend 10 hours on a train travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide or a 1.5 hour flight there, which would you choose? If you were given the choice of a 38 hour train ride from Melbourne to Brisbane or a 2 hour flight, which would you choose?
In 2022 I wrote about how difficult it is for people with disability to access air travel and I cannot believe that three years later, with our technological advancements, increased awareness and government promises, this is an issue that we are still grappling with.
Air travel is supposed to represent freedom but for me, it represents the opposite and after being disappointed countless times in my life, I feel hopeless. I feel defeated. I feel unwanted.
The truth is simple, if airlines actually wanted us on their planes, they would make it possible. They would prioritise proper equipment for mobility aids, and train staff to treat us with respect.
Accessibility should never be an afterthought; it is a human right. People with disability should have the freedom to live full and exciting lives and travel wherever we choose, however we choose.