Latest news with #GlasgowPrestwick
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Edinburgh and Prestwick criticised over airport disabled services
Two of Scotland's busiest airports have been criticised by the aviation regulator for services they provide to disabled Airport and Glasgow Prestwick Airport were both listed as needing improvement in a new report by the UK Civil Aviation across the UK were graded by the regulator and considered either very good, good or needing three airports in the whole UK were rated as needing improvement, with London Heathrow the other one. Edinburgh Airport - which has more than 15 million passengers a year - "did not meet the standards for the provision of assistance in a timely manner", according to the said the problems were "primarily due to operational issues caused by a change of contractor for its service provider".This happened earlier in 2024/25 but "now appears to be resolved."The report added Scotland's busiest airport was now providing a "very good" standard since the operational issues ended. Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which has more than 2 million passengers a year, was criticised for failing to meet the standards to consult with disabled groups and regulator added Prestwick had now committed to putting in place an access Chadha, group director for consumers and markets at the regulator, said: "It is welcome that most airports scored positively, but there is clearly more to do from those found to be needing improvement. "With demand for these services rising dramatically in recent years, all airports have a huge challenge ahead to ensure they continue to offer the assistance services their passengers deserve." 'Significant improvements' A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said the rating came during "a particularly challenging time for our PRM operation, due to a change of provider, staff shortages, and a surge in demand for the service."He added: "We have increased our investment in the service to more than £6m and have worked closely with our provider to implement new and improved processes and oversight. "These efforts have led to significant improvements, and our goal remains to return to and maintain a good or very good rating."A spokesperson for Glasgow Prestwick said the Ayrshire airport was working to address the issues from the said: "While we are naturally disappointed to have fallen in the ratings after maintaining top tier status for six consecutive reports."We want to reassure passengers that this rating does not reflect operational issues, or the quality of assistance delivered on the ground."The downgrade related to engagement with specific accessibility and disability groups which we recognise is an important part of continuous improvement."
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Heathrow ‘needs improvement' in how disabled flyers are treated, regulator says
Heathrow 'needs improvement' in how it assists passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, a regulator has found. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which conducted the assessment, also gave the same rating to Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick airports. It said the three airports have 'clearly more to do' in their provision of additional support. Fourteen UK airports were rated as 'good' and 11 as 'very good'. None were rated 'poor'. CAA group director for consumers and markets Selina Chadha said disabled passengers and those with limited mobility should be able to be 'confident when travelling through UK airports'. She continued: 'Our mission is to protect people and enable aerospace, and we believe the entire industry should be behind the goal of making aviation accessible to all. 'It is welcome that most airports scored positively, but there is clearly more to do from those found to be needing improvement. 'With demand for these services rising dramatically in recent years, all airports have a huge challenge ahead to ensure they continue to offer the assistance services their passengers deserve.' Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, was found to have 'discrepancies' between its data on waiting times to provide assistance at Terminal 3, and what was observed happening, the CAA's report stated. The regulator added: 'Given these concerns, we cannot be assured that the waiting time standards were met at Terminal 3, and we do not consider that Heathrow is meeting the requirement for an airport to have robust processes in place for overseeing how it measures its performance.' The report is based on the year to the end of March. Heathrow's chief operating officer Javier Echave said the airport made 'significant strides in enhancing our assistance service' since the previous 12-month period. He went on: 'I want to reassure passengers that Heathrow has a strong plan in place. 'We are investing in new equipment, introducing designated security lanes, and expanding support to help passengers with assistance needs travel more independently. 'This 'needs improvement' rating provided by the CAA focuses on the administration of data recording in Terminal 3, based on audits which it conducted in late 2024, which we had addressed by the end of the reporting period. 'Apart from this specific matter, Heathrow has delivered demonstrable progress across all key service metrics.'
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Heathrow ‘needs improvement' in how disabled flyers are treated, regulator says
Heathrow 'needs improvement' in how it assists passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility, a regulator has found. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which conducted the assessment, also gave the same rating to Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick airports. It said the three airports have 'clearly more to do' in their provision of additional support. Fourteen UK airports were rated as 'good' and 11 as 'very good'. None were rated 'poor'. CAA group director for consumers and markets Selina Chadha said disabled passengers and those with limited mobility should be able to be 'confident when travelling through UK airports'. She continued: 'Our mission is to protect people and enable aerospace, and we believe the entire industry should be behind the goal of making aviation accessible to all. 'It is welcome that most airports scored positively, but there is clearly more to do from those found to be needing improvement. 'With demand for these services rising dramatically in recent years, all airports have a huge challenge ahead to ensure they continue to offer the assistance services their passengers deserve.'
