Authority of People with Disability and GACA Organizes a Workshop on “Improving Air Transport Services for People with Disabilities”

The Authority of People with Disability in partnership with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), organized a workshop today on “Air Transport Services for Persons with Disabilities in the Kingdom” with the participation of representatives of national air carriers, Saudi Arabian Airlines, flynas, flyadeal, and the Saudi Ground Services Company.  The workshop was in the presence of a number of persons with disabilities.

The workshop, which was held at the Authority of People with Disability headquarters aims to identify the main challenges facing travelers with disabilities, in order to contribute to addressing the shortcomings in travel procedures for persons with disabilities and improving their experience at all stages of travel.

The participants in the workshop discussed a number of themes and topics, including the results of the previously published questionnaire. The workshop included the participation of a group of people with disabilities to present the challenges they faced while traveling by air. The workshop also shed light on the stages of the traveler’s journey, which is divided into 3 main stages, which includes, a stage before travel, including: planning and reservation, arrival and entry to the airport, check-in area, passport and visa procedures, security inspection area, arrival at the departure gate, and a stage during travel that includes boarding the plane, access to the seat, emergency instructions. This in addition to updates during flights, requesting assistance, exiting the plane, and a stage after travel which includes procedures for arriving at the airport, collecting baggage, waiting at the airport, and exiting the airport.

The workshop concluded with a number of recommendations aimed at facilitating and adapting procedures for people with disabilities for each stage of travel. This comes within GACA’s vision to prepare an environment compatible and comprehensive with international standards, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.