Vietnam CAA urges airports to buy ambulifts
- Written by Roberto Castiglioni
On Monday The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam urged the Airports Corporation of Vietnam to draw plans to purchase ambulifts.
"Passengers with limited mobility may not be allowed to board just because there is no equipment to help carry them," Vo Huy Cuong, deputy head of CAAV said.
Airports Corporation of Vietnam said only International airports are equipped with ambulifts, a specially adapted vehicle used to help passengers with reduced mobility embark planes parked on stand.
Ambulifts are a common feature for passengers flying low cost carriers, as budget airlines usually do not make use of airbridge.
Last week Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority fined Vietjet employees Le Vu Nhiem and Le Nguyen Minh for not allowing Ms Nguyen Thi Van board her return flight to Hanoi.
A spokesperson for Vietjet said Ms Van could not be taken via ambulift to the remote stand where the plane was parked due to "safety reasons." To be able to return to Hanoi, the wheelchair user had to purchase another ticket on Vietnam Airlines.
The deputy head of CAAV said staff must help passengers with disabilities enplane and deplane at all times, regardless of the availability of ambulifts.
