Image via WikipediaFlying back into Dublin Airport last night, I along with 2 others were prebooked disabled passengers requiring assistance from the plane to the arrivals hall.

We did our usual ‘wait till everyone else gets off’ (I live in the hope that one day we’ll keep the able bodied waiting for a minute or two while our needs are tended to first!)

I watched a battered Fernley crew minibus pull up beside the plane and groaned. We were going to be put on the awful cramped cattle bus again. Fernley seem to have the contract for transporting most of the disabled meat in Dublin Airport at the moment.

It’s bad enough that there are no air bridges for so many flights into and out of Dublin Airport (Ryanair, many Aer Lingus flights and other companies don’t use them or the airport doesn’t have them available for use) but when those of us with walking difficulties actually make it down the stairs ourselves (as opposed to being hauled down the steps in a very precarious manner after been thrown about being lifted out of the seats – I know how badly those who use wheelchairs most of the time have it when they travel) we found ourselves having to climb into a minibus from hell.

And to think that passengers are paying for this? Paying Ryanair (in this case) for them to pay Fernley!!! 3 muppets sat in the van with crap wheelchairs in the back after 4 people with disabilities tried to get aboard, the van stank, was driven to a drop off point where we clambered out again presumably to be met with people who would push us to the arrivals hall. I’m not sure what training in disability awareness the staff had but access for people with disabilities was not something I got any sense of during my interaction with staff. In my case I was left waiting for a few minutes to be met and then pushed to the hall.

Then the 3 pushers dumped their ‘goods’ at the baggage carousel while they got together for a chat. We had a 25 minute wait for the bags – I was left smack bang in the thoroughfare to the trolleys – the chair was not something I could move myself as it was a pushchair – hence I got bashed by people rushing for trollies or away with their trollies? And of course the ‘pusher’ aka ‘specially trained staff member’ was too busy chatting to her mates to notice.

From next month airports (in this case the Dublin Airport Authority) as opposed to airlines are to take charge of the transport of disabled passengers via the implementation of EU Directive 1107/2006 – I don’t think things are going to get any better!

The DAA website states

In line with the Department of Transport’s objectives, it is the aim of the Dublin Airport Authority, “that all passenger transport providers should provide the highest possible degree of accessibility, subject to available resources and competing priorities and rules of practicality.”

subject to available resources and competing priorities and rules of practicality

ie. That’ll be the practicality providing us with shitty battered inaccessible buses, wheelchairs that fall apart and going up and down steps rather than using an ambulift and staff who don’t put the brakes on chairs before you try to get out of them! All accompanied by the lack of facilities to enable outgoing disabled passengers to shop or have a meal before their flight – like carcasses we are told to wait in a special area until we are dumped at the aircraft before we leave, do not pass go, do not pick up your duty free/cup of coffee.

(Malaga airport uses airbridges, electric golf style buggies and trained staff – it was an absolute pleasure – still no chance of shopping but the other basic dignities afforded to me were gratefully received!)

DAA and Fernley and Ryanair have been contacted – I’ll let you know how it goes!

Update – Please see this post for the latest information and response.