Israel Proposes New Aviation Regulations for Passengers with Disabilities

Israel's Ministry of Transport has published draft regulations aimed at comprehensively regulating accessibility for passengers with disabilities in the aviation sector. The move seeks to align Israeli standards with international obligations, including the Chicago Convention and the 2013 aviation agreement with the European Union, which mandated the adoption of European accessibility standards.

For years, local regulations focused primarily on aircraft structural requirements, leaving a significant regulatory gap compared to the European Union. Without uniform rules, passengers with disabilities have faced uncertainty regarding their rights, the scope of assistance, and the division of responsibility between airlines and airport operators.

The new draft covers the entire passenger journey. It mandates accessible information at the time of ticket purchase, pre-arranged assistance, airport escort services, boarding support, free transport of assistive devices, and liability for lost or damaged equipment. Additionally, operators and airlines will be required to train staff interacting with passengers with disabilities.

Despite the positive steps, the draft allows airlines to refuse ticket sales or boarding for safety reasons or aircraft dimension limitations, and in certain cases, require a companion. While companies must justify refusals and offer alternatives, critics note that passengers may face last-minute hurdles, as they are required to coordinate needs 48 hours in advance.