Travel information
Wheelchairs are not luggage: what the UK’s new accessibility push means before your next flight
2026-10-21
A wheelchair is not ordinary baggage. It can be a person’s independence, posture support and safe way home. That is why the UK government’s 19 October 2026 accessibility announcement matters—but it is equally important not to mistake a programme of improvements for a promise that every problem has already been solved.
What changed on 19 October 2026
The Department for Transport announced stronger safeguards for disabled air passengers as the Civil Aviation Bill progresses through Parliament. The programme includes better staff training, improved handling of wheelchairs and other mobility aids, clearer pre-travel information and work towards stronger enforcement powers for the Civil Aviation Authority.
The scale is real: official figures cited by the government show that more than 1,000 wheelchairs were damaged in transit in 2023. Separately, the Aviation Accessibility Implementation Group reports that 5.99 million passengers used assistance services at UK airports in 2025—up 9.4% in one year, faster than overall passenger growth.
What travellers can already ask for today
- • Request airport assistance through the airline, travel agent or tour operator—ideally when booking or at least 48 hours before departure.
- • Ask for written confirmation; assistance is not always added automatically.
- • In the UK and EU, eligible passengers can travel with up to two items of mobility equipment free of charge.
- • Tell the airline as early as possible about a powered wheelchair, battery type, dimensions and weight.
- • Ask whether the aircraft has an onboard wheelchair and what help is available for toilet access.
- • At arrival, a wheelchair or mobility aid should normally be returned at the gate unless there is an exceptional reason.
- • If assistance fails, complain first to the airline or airport, then use the relevant ADR body or the CAA route where applicable.
A seven-point mobility-aid handover
- 1. Photograph the wheelchair or mobility aid from all sides before handover.
- 2. Prepare a one-page handling sheet with model, weight, dimensions and battery chemistry.
- 3. Mark the battery isolation switch and safe lifting points clearly.
- 4. Remove or secure loose cushions, controls and accessories as the manufacturer recommends.
- 5. Carry essential tools, a charger and key spare parts only where airline and security rules permit.
- 6. Keep the manufacturer, repairer, insurer and emergency contact details offline as well as on your phone.
- 7. Confirm where the equipment will be returned and what temporary support is available if it is delayed or damaged.
Free airport assistance and personalised support are not the same service
Statutory airport assistance should not be repackaged as a paid service. The additional value of personalised travel support lies outside that free entitlement: preparing a clear journey brief, coordinating with family, checking that requests have been recorded, keeping documents and contacts together, and helping the traveller respond when the plan changes.
PRESENT & ABLE can help families prepare and coordinate within an agreed, lawful scope. We cannot guarantee airline performance, border decisions or the safe handling of equipment, and our service does not replace the airline, airport, emergency services or regulated professional advice. Explore PRESENT & ABLE if you need a trusted person to help make the journey plan usable in real life.