By Gunta Anca, Vice-President of the European Disability Forum and Chair of the Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations (Sustento).
In February, I was invited to give a speech to open an important conference by the Polish Presidency of the EU on the use of EU funds for people with disabilities.
I was supposed to fly to Warsaw with LOT Airlines to be there in person. But I stayed grounded. Why? Because I was denied boarding.
At first, everything seemed smooth—check-in, security check, and assistance to the gate. But just as I was about to board, questions arose about my wheelchair batteries. Despite having flown with these batteries for over 20 years, despite having sent all required documentation in advance and receiving airline approval, the captain wasn’t convinced.
His reason? He couldn’t see the batteries inside the protective case. And without seeing them, he refused to allow me on board.
I explained. I provided safety certificates. I suggested opening the container—only to be told they had no screwdriver. The captain wasn’t willing to come and discuss the situation. The final decision? No flight for me.
So, what does this mean?
- Almost all electric wheelchairs have batteries in protective cases that can’t be quickly opened. Should this mean wheelchair users can’t fly?
- Airlines train their staff on accessibility—yet this happened. What is being taught?
- How far can distrust go when someone can outright say, “I don’t believe it”, without even checking?
This is not an isolated case. People with disabilities continue to face barriers—not because of their condition, but because of systemic failures and ignorance.
It is time for the EU to update a unified, non-discriminatory aviation policy for passengers with disabilities. No one should be left behind just because someone ‘doesn’t believe’ in their right to travel.
I spoke at the conference remotely. But did a 30-minute speech really replace the opportunity to connect, engage, and network throughout the day?
Let’s talk about real accessibility. Let’s make sure no one is left behind at the gate.