Submission to Aviation Consumer Protections Consultation – Subordinate Legislation

The Justice and Equity Centre made a submission responding to the Australian Government’s Consultation Paper on Aviation Consumer Protections – Subordinate Legislation. This consultation focused on the proposed Aviation Consumer Protections Charter which will set minimum standards for airlines and airports to follow. Our submission builds on recommendations previously made in response to an earlier draft Aviation Customer Rights Charter. 

We emphasised the experiences of people with disability accessing air travel must be better reflected in the scope of the Charter and the standards it sets.

For example, we recommended the Charter be expanded to include accessible information, accessible airline booking processes, and dignified and respectful treatment of passengers during security screening. We also called for disability aids and assistance requirements to be addressed in a new section of the Charter, separate to ‘baggage requirements’.

The Consultation also sought views on the setting of values for vouchers in the event of disruptions, delays or cancellations. We submitted the setting of values for vouchers needs to account for the higher costs likely to be incurred by people with disability, including incidental costs such as costs of support workers, assistive equipment and supplies related to a disability or medical condition, so that people with disability do not unfairly bear out-of-pocket costs associated with changes in their travel plans.