What passengers with disabilities experience when flying

This research page should help readers understand the real-world impact of inaccessible air travel. The strongest evidence links individual experiences to repeatable themes such as assistance gaps, communication failures, dignity, equipment handling, and confidence to travel again.

• Summarise the key findings in plain language before asking readers to go deeper.
• Connect barriers to practical recommendations for airports, airlines, and assistance providers.
• Give passengers a clear route to add their own experience to future research.

Useful next steps: research into air travel accessibility | share your air travel experience | air travel accessibility experiences | research on air travel experiences of passengers with disabilities

Reviewed: 2026-04-21 by Access-air-bility editorial team