Good grades for Sumburgh
SUMBURGH Airport is among 16 airports in the UK that have been rated as very good in a survey on accessibility for disabled passengers.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said on Friday that services for people with reduced mobility at the UK’s 30 main airports were improving and that satisfaction levels among passengers remained high.
However, four major airports were rated as either poor (Manchester) or needing improvements (Birmingham, Gatwick and Stansted).
In the Highlands and Islands area, the two airports included in the list of the 30 main airports – Sumburgh and Inverness – were both found to be very good, an improvement on Sumburgh’s performance last year.
A spokesman for operator Highlands and Islands Airports Limited said the company was continuing to engage with local disability groups to improve its service.
“Sumburgh Airport’s enhanced disability access was embedded in its £6.5 million refurbishment and staff have worked hard to implement a number of additional improvements to accessibility including changing over our signs for disabled toilets and improving our waiting area,” he said.
UK aviation minister Baroness Sugg added: “It’s essential that passengers with reduced mobility or hidden disabilities get the service they deserve every time they fly.
“The CAA has stepped up its work in this area and plays an important role in showing where improvement still needs to be made.
“I welcome the progress made by airports to improve accessibility and will continue to work with all of the aviation industry to make flying easier for disabled passengers.”
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