Frontier Airlines CEO takes aim at wheelchair assistance ‘abuse’

Tuesday, 03 Jun, 2024 1

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle is calling for a clampdown on wheelchair assistance ‘imposters’

He has called out ‘rampant abuse’ of wheelchair assistance requests, claiming many passengers are gaming the system.

He says many are requesting wheelchairs that don’t physically require them.

“There is massive, rampant abuse of special services. There are people using wheelchair assistance who don’t need it at all,” Biffle said.

Biffle said penalties should be imposed on people who abuse the system in the same way drivers are when needlessly using disabled parking spots.

He cited a Frontier flight where about 20 people were taken to the departure gate in wheelchairs but only three from the same flight required one on arrival.

The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 forbids airlines from discriminating against disabled travelers.

Former London Heathrow Airport CEO John Holland-Kaye previously called out passengers abusing the passenger assistance service ‘to get fast-tracked through the airport’ which has impacted travelers with genuine disabilities.

TravelMole Editorial Team

Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.

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