Airports for mobility, hearing or visually impaired or disabled people
All British airports are fully accessible to mobility, hearing or visually impaired or disabled passengers, and although some airport services might differ, standards don't.
Note: If you need any assistance from airport or airline staff at any stage of your journey, you should always let the airline know at least 48 hours before you fly.
Assistance
If you have particular mobility, hearing, visual or disabled needs and have let your airline know that you need assistance at the airport, there should be someone to meet you off the plane and help you find your way around the airport.
If you're met by a member of staff at the airport, they should also help you to retrieve and carry your baggage up to the point of onward travel (e.g. taxi rank, bus/train station). Contact your airline before you fly to arrange to have someone to meet you.
The following services should be available to you at all British airports:
- Assistance to reach check-in
- Help with registration at check-in
- A briefing for you and any escort or companion on emergency procedures and the layout of the cabin
- Help with getting on and off the plane
- Help with stowing and retrieving baggage on the plane
- An on-board wheelchair (not always available, so make sure to request one)
- Someone to meet you off the plane and help you find your way around the airport
Access
All of Britain's airports are fully accessible. The following services should be available at all of Britain's airports:
- Accessible toilets
- Wide aisles
- Buggy services if you need assistance crossing airport terminals
- Clear and unambiguous signs
- Reserved seating for passengers with particular phyical or sensory needs
All areas and services in the terminal buiding that are open to the public should be accessible to passengers with mobility, hearing, visual and disabled needs. This includes toilets, showers, restaurants and shops, business centres, executive lounges, leisure facilities and places of prayer.
For information on facilities available at your destination airport, contact the airport directly.
Transport from the airport
Taxis
Airport taxi ranks in Britain are well signed, and there's usually step-free access from the terminal building to the taxi rank. If your destination airport is served by one particular taxi firm, at least some of the vehicles should be wheelchair accessible, but these taxis may have to be pre-booked, so call the airport or taxi firm to check before you travel.
Taxi ranks at British airports are usually staffed, but if there are no airport staff around, there should be a help point you can go to for information.
For more information on accessible taxis, visit our Taxi disabled access page.
Public Transport
If the bus, tram or train station you're using is owned or operated by the airport, the station should be fully accessible. However, not all bus, tram and train stations are owned/operated by the airports, so call ahead before you travel.
For a list of Britain's airports and the transport links available from each of them, visit our Getting to and from UK airports page.