Reacting to recent news that EU Regulation No. 261/2004 regarding air travel compensations and services available to EU member State citizens has been amended, with the reported exclusion once more of Gibraltar airport from its provisions, Equality Rights Group GGR has contacted Sir Graham Watson in Brussels for clarification.

A statement released by the group insisted that, ‘if Gibraltarians as a whole are disadvantaged by exclusion from the Regulation, local elderly and disabled passengers stand to be the most disadvantaged in comparison to their Europe-wide counterparts'.

‘On the one hand, it is logical that we should ask if the compensation rights for cancelled flights and necessary transport and hotel accommodation costs have been amended, whether European disabled passengers (many of them elderly) will be entitled to a higher level of compensation award and services than previously applicable, given the sometimes higher costs of mobility that they face in comparison to the able-bodied.

‘Once we have specific and clear answers to these questions, we will be able to plan necessary reaction from this Group in solidarity, support and defence of Gibraltar’s disabled and elderly, and we would be happy to coordinate relevant representations with interested senior citizens' and disability groups whether locally through the pertinent air carriers or via Petition to the European Parliament,’ the statement ended.