DDB 128 British Airways
29 March 2004
The Lord Carter
Chairman, Joint Committee on the
Draft Disability Discrimination Bill
Committee Office
House of Lords
LONDON SWiA 0PW
Dear Lord Carter,
DRAFT DISABILITY
DISCRIMINATTON BILL
Thank you for your letter of 25 March
2004 in which you asked if British Airways would support bringing
the aviation industry promptly within the scope of the Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA).
We support fully the Government's present
intention not to make regulations bringing aviation within the
scope of the DDA. As a business which serves countries throughout
the world, we believe we would be placed at significant competitive
disadvantage were the UK Government to regulate UK airlines and
not foreign airlines that we compete with. It should also be noted
that many aspects of air travel are already covered by existing
legislation, for example, booking arrangements and airport facilities.
For the air part of the journey, voluntary practices appear to
work satisfactorily and it is difficult to see how Regulation
would improve the service we offer today.
It is our clear preference to support
the UK's voluntary code of practice -
Access to Air Travel for Disabled
People. British Airways represented the UK scheduled airline sector
on the Department for Transport working group which drew up the
Code of Practice. Since then, and despite the recent and difficult
trading conditions we have faced, British Airways has been very
active in addressing the service elements of the Code w1nch
needed attention. We understand that a Government sponsored consultant
is soon to audit airlines on their compliance with the Code. We
believe that the voluntary path should be given a chance before
legislation is considered.
I have no other comments to make on
the draft bill. Thank you for this opportunity to convey this
opinion on the Government's intention not to bring aviation into
the scope of the DDA.
Yours
James Forster
Manager Facilitation
Government and Industry Affairs
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