Human Rights Commission calls Jetstar to Account
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Jetstar called on to give better service to people with disability
Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, have called for Jetstar to meet with them as a matter of urgency after reports that a visually-impaired man was was told he could not book a Jetstar Flight because the airline did not accept guide dogs.
Mr Shorten said this was the second serious incident to have been reported in two weeks, following the airline's treatment of paralympic champion, Kurt Fearnley.
"If reports of these incidents are correct, then I am extremely concerned about Jetstar's approach to customers with disabilities," Mr Shorten said.
"People with disability have the same right to travel by air as the rest of the population.
“They should not be treated like children or as an inconvenience.”
"They should not face the humiliation of being turned away when they have purchased a ticket."
"While I understand that Jetstar has apologised in both cases, it would have been far better if the incidents had never happened."
"I can not understand why any company would treat its potential customers with such a lack of respect. Many Australians rely on a guide dog to get around, and they should be able to catch planes as easily as the rest of the community.”
"It is also a concern that incidents like these could damage Australia's reputation as a tourist destination."
Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, called on Jetstar to join the positive work being done by other airlines, government regulators and the disability sector.
"This work contributed to the Virgin Blue Airlines access policy for people with disability, which is far more positive," said Commissioner Innes.
Commissioner Innes said that, on this International Day of People with Disabilities, it was clearly time for Jetstar to meet with Parliamentary Secretary Shorten and himself with a view to providing equal services to all Australians, including Australians with disability.