Justice for All blog

May 6, 2008

LA airport to begin treating disabled passengers better

On April 23, the Los Angeles Airport Board of Commissioners, which oversees airport operations, unanimously passed a Service Standards Policy to improve passenger services at the Los Angeles international airport (LAX).  One goal, among several agreed to as part of this service standards policy, is to “Increase safety and quality of service by requiring certain initial and recurrent training of employees, including serving disabled and elderly passengers.”

The policy change resulted from intensive advocacy action following a report released last summer that found private firms subcontracted by the airlines offer inadequate training to their workers. The report also found that these contractors failed to replace faulty equipment used to transport passengers with disabilities, such as in broken wheelchairs.  The airport has yet to put out bids for new contractors meeting these requirements, but advocates hope it is soon. Similar service policies exist at San Francisco, Miami and Boston airports.

AAPD supported the efforts of SEIU Local 1877, a member of the advocacy coalition who worked to secure the agreement from the airport. 

Read a related news story