Every day, around 100,000 flights transport over 10 million passengers across a global air transportation network comprising over 1,400 scheduled airlines, 26,000 aircraft in service and 3,900 airports. According to the latest long-term traffic forecasts, by 2034, air passenger traffic is expected to more than double as compared to 2016.

Aviation, like all other transport modes, needs to recognize and accommodate the growing number of persons with disabilities who fly. Persons with disabilities currently represent more than 15% of the world population. Due to a steady increase in life expectancy, globally aging populations, advances in medical care, assistive technology and other technological innovations, the number of persons with disabilities is increasing fast.

Not only do persons with disabilities represent a growing percentage of the world’s population, they are increasingly able to travel by plane. For persons with disabilities, an aviation journey free of barriers remains too often, and for too many, an intangible reality.