EC 1107/2006 European Disability Air Travel Rules

EC Regulation 1107/2006 applies to any flight departing from an EU or EEA airport, regardless of the airline's nationality or the passenger's residence. Arrivals into EU/EEA airports from third countries are also covered for the disembarkation and assistance portion. Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein apply the same regulation through EEA alignment.

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  Covered airports: every commercial airport in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland with annual passenger traffic above 150,000.

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  Covered airlines: every airline operating to or from those airports.

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  Covered passengers: persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (PRM), defined broadly to include age-related, temporary, and invisible conditions.

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  Not covered: strictly domestic flights within non-EU countries, private and general aviation, military charters.

Article 3 of EC 1107 2006 disability regulation prohibits airlines, travel agents, and tour operators from refusing a booking, refusing to issue a ticket, or refusing to embark a passenger solely because of disability. Narrow safety exceptions apply (safety rules from the competent aviation authority, aircraft size constraints that physically prevent boarding), but these must be documented in writing.

An airline cannot require a traveling companion unless it is genuinely unsafe for you to fly alone. If asked to provide a companion, demand written justification citing a specific safety rule and request escalation to the airline's disability complaint handler.

Airport operators, not airlines, are responsible for PRM assistance from the dedicated arrival points (parking, taxi stand, train station, curb) through check-in, security, boarding, disembarkation, baggage claim, and exit. This is free, funded by a small per-passenger levy on all airport users.

1. 1

   Request assistance 48 hours in advance through the airline, online portal, or directly with airport PRM desk.

2. 2

   Arrive at the designated PRM meeting point at least 2 hours before departure.

3. 3

   Present yourself at check-in with ID and any medical documentation.

4. 4

   Use the airport PRM channel through security for priority screening.

5. 5

   Board with pre-boarding, which is mandatory under the regulation.

6. 6

   At destination, wait for PRM escort to baggage claim and the exit point you requested.

Airports that fail to provide assistance within a reasonable time owe compensation. Many airports publish service quality targets (for example, maximum waiting time of 10 minutes after request at Paris CDG and Frankfurt FRA).

Airlines must carry wheelchairs, scooters, and mobility aids at no charge, in addition to any free baggage allowance, under Article 10. Loss or damage is compensable at full replacement value, not depreciated. This is more generous than the Montreal Convention baggage liability limit (approximately 1,519 SDR, roughly 2,000 euros) which applies to general baggage.

Damaged mobility equipment in Europe: do not accept depreciated-value settlement offers. EC 1107/2006 overrides the Montreal Convention limit for mobility aids. Reference Article 12 in your claim.

The airline takes over from the airport at boarding. Crew must assist with seating, securing mobility equipment, safety briefings adapted to the passenger's needs, and help during the flight as requested. Service animals (including guide dogs, hearing dogs, mobility assist dogs) travel in the cabin at no charge, subject to minimum documentation.

Aircraft with more than 60 seats must have an accessible lavatory and onboard wheelchair. Smaller aircraft are exempt, which is why regional European flights may have more limited in-flight accessibility.

Each EU member state designates a National Enforcement Body (NEB) responsible for investigating complaints and imposing penalties on airlines or airports that breach the regulation. Fines vary by country, from €500 per violation in smaller jurisdictions to €50,000 or more in Germany and France. NEB response times vary from 6 weeks to 6 months.

The complaint path is typically: first to the airline or airport (6-week response window), then to the NEB if unsatisfied. For the full NEB directory, see EU enforcement body by country who to email. For the US parallel, see ACAA rights for US passengers with disabilities and how to file an ACAA complaint.

EASA opened a 2025 consultation on EC 1107/2006 modernization. Proposed changes under review for 2027 include mandatory staff training certification, harmonized damaged-equipment compensation formulas across member states, and expanded airport assistance at airports below the 150,000 passenger threshold. No binding change in 2026, but the regulatory direction is additive.

Pregnancy, temporary injury, and post-surgery recovery qualify as reduced mobility. You do not need a disability diagnosis to access PRM assistance. Request it at booking for any condition that affects airport or in-flight mobility. See pregnant passenger with medical needs rights.

For the pillar, see Disability and Medical Flight Rights.

For primary regulatory texts and official guidance cited in this guide, see 14 CFR Part 382 (ACAA, eCFR), EC Regulation 1107/2006 (Eur-Lex), DOT Disability Air Travel.