Accessibility barriers and solutions in aviation: An interpretive phenomenological study of passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility

The study aims to explore the barriers to accessibility encountered by persons with reduced mobility and persons with disabilities during air travel, and the solutions they propose based on their lived experience. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-four participants to examine the ongoing challenges regarding the accessibility of air travel from the perspective of those affected, as well as to gather suggestions for solutions. The findings reveal that numerous barriers persist at various stages of the journey for individuals with diverse needs, while also demonstrating that improvements can be standardized for all locations but tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual. Based on the data, this study introduces two concepts to the literature. One is the cumulative effect of barriers, and the other is standardized flexibility. Thus, this study broadens the perspective on accessibility and advances the current debate.