On 7 October 2026, our CEO Lucy gave evidence about disabled people’s experiences of air travel to the Scottish Parliament Transport Committee.
The Committee’s enquiry subject was ‘Islands and Regional Air Travel’, and DES used this as an opportunity to share what we have learnt from listening to our members and other disabled people. We told the Committee that our members regularly note that accessible travel is a major topic of concern, and it is therefore an important focus for our work.
We consulted our members and other disabled people about air travel in late 2025 and again in 2026. This year we have held focus groups on aviation for island communities and on access to healthcare in remote areas, which touched on aviation. Last year we ran a survey asking disabled people about their experiences of air travel more generally.
We think that decision makers like MSPs should regard air – and other forms of – travel as an independent living, equality, and human rights issue. It is not just an economic or transport issue.
Air travel – indeed any travel – is quite often a means to an end. As the Committee heard, it enables people to get to work, access essential services like healthcare, and supports education. Crucially it also supports family life and the much wider concept in disability equality and rights of independent living.
When it comes to air travel, the availability of flights is only one element. Of equal importance for disabled people is accessibility. That means disabled people being able to get to the airport, boarding the plane, travelling with necessary equipment and medication, completing the journey safely and with dignity, and being able to afford the additional costs if any part of the system fails.
Air transport – like any transport – must be accessible so that disabled people can enjoy their rights on an equal basis with others.
Watch our CEO Lucy giving evidence to the Transport Committee at this link.
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