Fair play

It may come as a surprise to Ryanair, but disabled people are just as likely to want to fly as anyone else. And some will inevitably need the help of a wheelchair to get around the terminal. This is not an "optional extra" like an in-flight meal, but a necessity. As the Appeal Court ruled yesterday, to charge customers for the use of a wheelchair, which was Ryanair's policy, constitutes shameful discrimination. Rather than squabbling with Stansted airport about who ought to fork out for the provision of wheelchairs, Ryanair would be well advised to focus instead on treating all its customers with the dignity they have a right to expect.