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Posted on the 8th January 2025 in PHTM News
MANCHESTER AIRPORT SLAMMED OVER "SENSELESS" DISABLED PASSENGER PICK UP RULES
Manchester Airport is facing criticism after a taxi driver was threatened with a £100 fine for picking up three disabled passengers at the terminal drop-off zone.
The incident, which was filmed and shared on social media, involved a driver from Nolan Airport Service who was collecting three elderly women with mobility issues.
The women were unable to easily reach the designated pick-up area located in a nearby car park, all of them possess blue badges.
"I asked a marshal if we would be okay to pick them up from the T3 drop off area when they came back, and he said it would be alright due to their disabilities," explained John Nolan, owner of the taxi firm.
"Then, on Sunday, my driver went to pick them up from the terminal drop-off zone, believing he was acting within reason given the passengers' disabilities, where he was confronted by airport marshals.
"He told them he was picking up three disabled ladies, to which he was told it would be a £100 fine."
The video, shared by Mr. Nolan, shows the driver arguing with marshals, stating: "They are disabled, there's three of them, and now they are going to have to get out because of these guys over here.
"She can barely walk and you're going to make them go to level three, yeah?"
Taxi firm owner John added: "They actually allowed him to put the ladies into the car in the end after saying he wasn't allowed to pick them up, and told him to drive to the T3 car park and back out again. My driver said it was clear they were disabled.
"It's scandalous. There were four or five marshals around him on that video, it was completely unnecessary.
"The main issue is just the lack of compassion and common sense, with three old dears who can barely walk. You can see on the video one of the ladies even struggles to get out of the car."
Mr. Nolan slammed the airport's rules as "senseless" and lacking "compassion and common sense."
He emphasised the women's difficulty walking and the unnecessary stress caused by the incident.
Manchester Airport defended its policy, stating that drop-off zones are for dropping off passengers only and that designated pick-up areas with longer dwell times are available for passenger collection.
"Passengers being picked up after a flight, including those with reduced mobility, should use our designated pick-up areas," said a spokesperson. "
"A charge of £6.20 applies to these areas in order for us to make sure they are not misused."
The airport maintains that its reduced mobility teams are available to assist passengers with navigating the airport and reaching the designated pick-up zones.
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