COMMENT FROM ALLGOHERE.COM REACTING TO RYANAIR DDA RULING

30/01/2004

Reacting to this morning’s court ruling against Ryanair, Jonathan Kaye, a Disability Consultant to the travel industry and Founder/Managing Editor of Allgohere.com, which includes a directory of global airlines and their accessibility policies, said:

“I very much welcome this ruling. It sends a very clear message, not only to airlines but the travel industry in general: In providing your goods and services you cannot discriminate against disabled travellers today. I hope that recognising this, UK airlines in particular will now also start actively addressing other quality of service issues currently concerning disabled customers, such as poor ground-staffing and damage to wheelchairs and equipment in the course of baggage handling.”

Ryanair were prosecuted for charging wheelchair user, Bob Ross, a charge of £36 for loaning him the use of an airport wheelchair. His landmark case was supported by the UK's Disability Rights Commission.

For further information and comment, Jonathan Kaye may be contacted on 01923 840463.

Note to editors:

1) Unlike the vast majority of other disability travel resources on the web, Allgohere.com is primarily targeted at the travel industry, being strongly endorsed by the Association of British Travel Agents for such purposes.

2) Jonathan Kaye specialises in advising on the accessibility of goods and services in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Clients include companies in the hotel and travel distribution industries.

3) Jonathan Kaye is a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy.