Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has thrown her weight behind a new bill that would allow regulators to fine airlines that fail disabled travelers, calling it a "significant opportunity" to improve air travel for wheelchair users.
Speaking in the House of Lords, the 11-time gold medalist recounted personal horror stories, including an incident where her wheelchair was lost on a Geneva-to-Birmingham flight and returned "in two pieces" weeks later via Dublin. She told peers that when airline staff realized her chair was missing, they asked if she had "ever tried to walk." When it finally arrived, it had been cut in half and she was advised to "duct tape it back together."
The Civil Aviation Bill, which passed its second reading, would introduce new rules on flights, lost luggage, and price transparency, while strengthening the Civil Aviation Authority's enforcement powers. Aviation Minister Keir Mather said the legislation would "modernise" UK aviation and ensure "no one should be let down when they travel."
However, some lawmakers argued for stronger protections. Conservative peer Lord Christopher Holmes, a blind former Paralympic swimmer, urged that disabled passengers' rights be written directly into the bill rather than left to future rules. Labour peer Baroness Theresa Griffin described being left in airport "holding pens" with colouring pencils while traveling to Strasbourg.
Transport minister Lord Hendy confirmed the bill would cover both airlines and airports. Baroness Grey-Thompson emphasized that current systems are "just a little bit too ad hoc" when disabled passengers seek help or compensation for damaged equipment, adding: "This bill does present a significant opportunity to do something very different for disabled people."