Your say / Bristol airport
‘Bristol Airport’s accessibility shortcomings are failing disabled passengers’
Bristol Airport promotes itself as a key gateway for the South West but for disabled passengers, including myself, it often falls short.
Despite some improvements, the airport continues to have significant accessibility issues that cause frustration and discomfort for many.
Growing up, I was always anxious about airport security, an unease sparked by a memory of being scolded for an accidental pair of scissors in my bag.
is needed now More than ever
Flying from Bristol Airport can often be frustrating – photo: Bristol Airport
Today, although I face fewer accessibility needs than some, Bristol Airport’s security has become a persistent source of frustration.
Born without my lower left arm, I face challenges every time I go through the airport’s security scanners.
The technology, it seems, is unable to recognise my body type, forcing me to undergo a full pat-downs, shoe checks, and drug swabs that feel unnecessary and humiliating.
On one occasion, I was rudely asked, “What’s in your sleeve?” before a security officer insisted I pat down my arm to prove my disability.
On another occasion, when I pointed out my disability before a screening, an officer replied: “I noticed, but thought I’d give it a go anyway.”
Airport security technology, it seems, is unable to recognise some certain body types – photo: Rohde & Schwarz
Encounters like these reveal inadequate staff training and a lack of empathy—problems that should be urgently addressed if the airport truly aims to be inclusive.
Despite reassurances from Bristol Airport that “customer-facing staff have been given full training and have been put through an awareness program,” my experiences suggest these initiatives have yet to translate into consistent, effective support.
Though some staff members are kind and willing, positive moments are often overshadowed by interactions with personnel who seem uncertain or ill-prepared to assist.
Encounters like Rosa’s reveal inadequate staff training – photo: Bristol Airport
My personal experiences mirror broader shortcomings in Bristol Airport’s support for disabled travellers.
As a wheelchair user, David Wilson, told the Swindon Examiner:“As much as I don’t want to drive to Gatwick (and instead use the closer Bristol Airport), it does mean you can rely on the disability side there.”
These failings have not gone unnoticed.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) annual report flagged Bristol as one of only five UK airports which “needs improvement” for accessibility.
The 2023/24 UK CAA report also notes that “early months of the 2024/25 reporting year show a further deterioration” of Bristol Airport’s accessibility service – photo: Bristol Airport
Navigating Bristol Airport as a disabled passenger can be an exhausting, often emotionally draining, experience.
Being made to wait until all other passengers have disembarked for assistance, for example, can feel isolating and undignified.
Bristol could draw inspiration from airports like Glasgow, which recently conducted Open Inclusion trials to test innovative accessibility solutions.
Similarly, Alicante Airport has set new standards for inclusion with accessible corridors, electric vehicle parking, and other thoughtful amenities.
Everyone deserves to be able to fly with dignity.
Today I’ve launched a new expert group led by Baroness @Tanni_GT to break down barriers to flying for disabled passengers.
We are determined to make accessible flying a reality for all✈️https://t.co/KanSNJr9tw
— Louise Haigh (@LouHaigh) November 7, 2024
As Transport Secretary Louise Haigh aptly said recently: “Everyone has the right to fly with dignity.”
Bristol Airport must embrace this ethos by addressing its accessibility shortcomings with urgency, investing the time, resources, and commitment needed to bridge the gap.
Only then will it fulfil its promise as the gateway to the South West—one that welcomes all passengers with dignity, independence and respect.
This an opinion piece by Rosa Gilder, an English Literature graduate from the University of Glasgow
Main photo: Bristol Airport
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