Guide Dogs flying in the face of discrimination

Guide Dogs flying in the face of discrimination

They will be demanding an end to discrimination by airlines. Despite a change in policy by Ryanair, the twelve people are still not satisfied as the airline insists they can only fly accompanied by a sighted guide; which means purchasing an extra ticket, doubling the cost of the journey.

The trip to Brussels, organised by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, will include meetings with Richard Howitt MEP, other members of the European Parliament and several European disability organisations. They will discuss the forthcoming EU Regulation concerning the rights of disabled people and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.

The visually impaired group will provide MEPs with first-hand accounts of the unacceptable discrimination they encountered at the hands of Ryanair. They will raise grave concerns around certain airlines being able to prejudice the freedom of movement of blind and partially sighted people by refusing travel on unfounded health and safety grounds.

Tom Pey, Guide Dogs’ Director of Public Policy says: "Guide Dogs has campaigned hard for the rights of guide dogs owners to travel by air. Airlines should not be able to restrict the travel of blind and partially sighted passengers for reasons that have no factual basis. Guide Dogs is committed to working with the airline industry, legislators and regulators to stamp out discriminatory practices."

For further media information, please contact Chris Dyson or Nikki Wright in Guide Dogs Communications Department on 0118 983 8281 or 8380 (out of hours 07768 523996).