Vanilla Air apologises after wheelchair bound passenger forced to crawl onto plane
Japanese budget carrier Vanilla Air has apologised for forcing a disabled passenger out of a wheelchair who then had to crawl up steps to the plane.
The airline said company imposed safety rules banned any employees from carrying a person up stairs.
The airline apologised to passenger Hideto Kijima, 44, who is a frequent traveller.
"We’re sorry that we caused him that hardship," a spokesman said.
Kijima is also a representative of the website Barrier-Free Consulting Travel for All, which highlights accessible travel and amenities for disabled users.
"If people who cannot walk are not allowed to board the plane, then are babies and the elderly also not allowed to board? I was surprised that the staff member didn’t think that the company rules were absurd," Kijima said.
He said his travelling companions were also not permitted to carry him, and he had to hoist himself up the stairs using his hands.
He is paralysed from the waist down since a sporting accident more than 25 years ago.
Vanilla Air has since announced it would use lifts for disabled passengers at the airport.
It is a small airport on the resort island of Amami which does not have jet ways.
Kijima says he has travelled to nearly 200 airports worldwide, and this was the first time he was refused any help.
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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