Glasgow Airport disability access scores highest rating
18 Jul 2019 –– Glasgow
Glasgow Airport's disability access has received the highest available rating from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The CAA rated Glasgow Airport's disabled facilities as "very good" in its annual report, which was published last week.
The report aims to promote improvements to disability access in UK airports.
In order to score the top rating of "very good", an airport has to offer high-quality support to passengers who need extra assistance travelling through the airport. Airports must also have strong communication channels and regular consultations with disabled airport users.
In the last year, there were 3.7 million requests for assistance at UK airports, a figure which has increased by more than 80% since 2010.
The Civil Aviation Authority heaped praised on Glasgow Airport for a "significant investment and good management oversight driving its everyday performance.”
In the report, the CAA revealed that Glasgow Airport had met waiting time standards for 99.9% of disabled and less mobile passengers over the past 12 months.
85% of respondents surveyed scored Glasgow Airport’s assistance service as good or excellent.
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports which owns and manages Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports, which all received the "very good" rating, said: “It’s extremely important that anyone who requires additional support feels confident to travel knowing they can expect a comfortable and seamless journey through our airports.
"Over the course of the past year we have continued to invest in staff training and in further improving our facilities. This has included the opening of Changing Places toilets in both Aberdeen and Glasgow airports to support passengers with complex health care needs.
“Together with our dedicated service providers, we regularly engage with local access panels and national charities to discuss how we can continually enhance the service we provide. For all of our airports to receive a rating of ‘very good’ from the CAA is a clear indication that our efforts are well placed and, more importantly, passengers are seeing the benefits of our investment.”
