CHARGES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN BY AIRLINES

That this House recognises that patients with pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, muscular dystrophy and other conditions require supplementary oxygen when travelling by air; is dismayed by the recent survey of 71 UK airline operators by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA-UK) showing that the vast majority currently charge passengers requiring supplementary oxygen on flights; applauds the work of the PHA-UK and the British Lung Foundation to end the unfair financial impact of what is effectively a tax on the disabled; calls on all airlines flying from or through UK airports to allow passengers requiring in-flight supplementary oxygen to either bring personal oxygen equipment on board and use it, subject to necessary security checks, or to have supplementary oxygen provided for them by the airline, in both cases without charge; welcomes the recent decision by Thomson to join those airlines that have already ended charging; and urges all other airlines operating in the UK to follow their example.