An annual report on the state of accessibility in UK airports has found that most are making good progress in supporting disabled and less mobile passengers, but three airports have been told they must do better.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s latest Airport Accessibility Report shows that 25 out of 28 airports with more than 150,000 passengers met or exceeded expectations between April 2024 and March 2025.
Ratings of ‘Very Good’ were awarded to 11 airports including Aberdeen, Belfast International, Exeter, and London Gatwick, which improved from a lower rating last year.
A further 14 airports were classed as ‘Good’, with Inverness, Glasgow, and Manchester among those recognised for delivering reliable support services.
However, three major airports, London Heathrow, Edinburgh, and Glasgow Prestwick were found to need improvement.
In the case of Heathrow, the regulator raised concerns about missing or unreliable data from Terminal 3, making it unclear whether waiting time standards were met there.
Edinburgh was marked down after delays in providing timely assistance, an issue linked to operational changes earlier in the year which have since been addressed.
Glasgow Prestwick, meanwhile, was criticised for failing to adequately consult with disabled passengers, though it has now committed to setting up an Access Forum.
The report comes as demand for assistance services continues to grow.
In 2024, 5.5 million passengers requested support, representing around 1.9 percent of all travellers.
That figure has nearly doubled since 2010 and reflects wider changes in how accessible travel is prioritised.
Selina Chadha, Group Director for Consumers and Markets at the Civil Aviation Authority, said the improvements seen across most of the sector are encouraging.
She praised the investment and effort made by many airports but warned that rising demand presents a growing challenge.
Chadha said every airport should be striving to meet the standards set out in the Authority’s Accessibility Framework, launched in 2014.
That framework measures performance across three key areas: passenger waiting times, user satisfaction, and consultation with disabled passengers.
It also ensures that results are published annually, holding the industry to account and encouraging continued improvement.
This year’s results show clear gains.
Airports like Bristol, Liverpool and Norwich, which were rated as needing improvement last year, have all moved up to a ‘Good’ rating.
Cardiff and London Gatwick both made major strides, climbing from ‘Needs Improvement’ to ‘Very Good’.
The findings point to what’s possible when investment is matched by a commitment to listening and learning.
For the three airports still falling short, the message is clear: passengers deserve better.
