Wheelchair users should be the first to leave the airplane

Aug 03 2023 Travel trends

Ruling of the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe

The court week again saw some interesting rulings that can have an impact on our everyday lives. Among them, one particular ruling by the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe stands out as providing more justice and consideration for mobility-impaired passengers.

More justice for mobility-impaired passengers

Emil Excursion, a wheelchair user, went on a trip to Saint Petersburg with his wife in May 2019. For the trip, he booked flights from Frankfurt am Main with a stopover in Budapest. But he ran out of time when changing planes in Hungary, and still he and his wife Excursion had to be the last passengers to leave the plane. There was not enough time to catch the connecting flight to Saint Petersburg. As a consequence, they had to buy new tickets at a price of 227 euros per person and arrived at their destination almost ten hours later than planned.

As a result, the wheelchair user and his wife decided to sue for compensation. And their claim was justified, as the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe found. According to the Air Passenger Rights Ordinance, airlines are obliged to give priority to passengers with impaired mobility. This includes allowing them to be the first to board the aircraft and also the first to disembark. It was precisely this priority treatment that the airline failed to provide, which led to the delay that occurred.

Decision of the court in favour of the disabled passenger

The court ruled in favour of the excursion couple and obliged the airline not only to pay for the cost of the new tickets, but also to pay compensation of 800 euros for the flight delay of over three hours. Have you had similar difficulties during your travel? You can always file your case with us at www.myflyright.com and we will check if you are eligible for compensation.

This ruling is an important step towards more sensitivity and recognition of the needs of mobility-impaired travellers. It should ensure that such passengers are treated appropriately and that their rights are upheld. The decision of the Federal Supreme Court sends a signal for more accessibility in air travel and reminds us that consideration and equal treatment are of paramount importance for all passengers.