easyJet criticised after banning disabled man from flight
17.01.12
A disabled businessman was told he could not take an easyJet flight because he was unable to walk to the emergency exit, according to press reports. Dr Martin Sabry, who founded technology firm aIDEAS and is paralysed from the chest down and in a wheelchair, was told by easyJet staff at Gatwick that he would be able to board the flight to Montpellier on January 4 but their decision was overruled by the plane's captain.
Dr Sabry said: ‘Once on the plane the purser said, ‘can you walk to the emergency exit? I explained I am paralysed from the chest down and even though I am quite active, I cannot walk. I asked to see the captain and explained I had travelled with easyJet hundreds of times, but the purser still refused to let me board or see the captain. It was so demeaning.’
easyJet later apologised, put Dr Sabry on a first-class flight to Toulouse and paid for a taxi to take him 500 miles to Montpellier. The airline was fined €70,000 in a French court last week for banning three passengers from flights. Prosecutors said its business model caused it to discriminate against disabled passengers. easyJet said it carries over 1000 disabled passengers a day and may appeal.
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