Air Travel Remains a Gauntlet for Passengers with Disabilities

The study, published in Research in Transportation Business & Management, maps the passenger experience from online booking to baggage claim. Researchers identified a phenomenon they term the cumulative effect of barriers: minor logistical gaps—such as uncommunicated accessibility needs or mishandled equipment—that aggregate into an exhausting ordeal. These obstacles disproportionately affect individuals with visual or hearing impairments, wheelchair users, and those with hidden conditions like autism.

Simone Moretti, a senior researcher at BUas, argues that industry compliance with existing standards is insufficient. True progress requires moving beyond checkbox regulations to a model of co-creation. The university advocates for integrating passengers into the design process for services and infrastructure to ensure that safety protocols do not come at the expense of individual adaptability. To support this shift, the institution has launched the INCLAVI project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at providing specialized education for aviation professionals.