New rules take flight in EU

The European Parliament has passed new rules putting the burden of accommodating travelers with disabilities on the airports, instead of split between the airlines and airports. "This rule will guarantee people with reduced mobility the same access to air travel as any other passenger," said Roy Griffins, Airports Council International. If the regulations also pass the Council of Ministers and are implemented, this will mean an end to charging disabled passengers more for accessibility services, such as a wheelchair. It's not clear whether the rules resolve the practice of airlines being able to set per flight limits on the number of disabled people. The regulations would be a first for the EU and a welcome improvement over the split responsibility -- which can mean no one's responsibility -- current system.