As per the stipulations of Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2006, since 26/7/2008 Athens International Airport SA (AIA) provides the on ground assistance services for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility at no additional charge.
Ground assistance services for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility travelling to/from Athens International Airport are provided through AIA’s two (2) contractors, namely in alphabetical order Goldair Handling SA and Skyserv SA.
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Although a plane trip is now considered common practice, for people with ASD it is still an "event" in many ways: it alters their routine, entails transportation that may even involve quite a few unexpected situations (heavy traffic, delay in a public transport means), exposes them to a stressful airport environment (bright signs, noise, comings and goings, waiting, delays) and ultimately takes them to a somewhat claustrophobic environment in which they are requested to sit tight, strap-in and experience take-off and landing, not always the friendliest conditions for anybody’s senses, as the journey itself, especially when it is turbulent. Of course, one does not need to be autistic to be afraid of air travel!
The aim of the air-travel simulation programme for children with ASD is to desensitise them when being at the airport and flying the plane. To achieve this, a structured programme that trains and familiarises with procedures preceding an air journey has been devised, with children, parents and therapists ending up inside a real aircraft. The educational programme "Boarding Pass to Autism" was created by the Onassis Foundation, with the cooperation of the Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" which also hosts the final phase of the children’s desensitization. It is under the scientific auspices of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, supervised by Pr. Angeliki Gena of the University of Athens, and supported by AEGEAN.
Download the manual here
Download the information leaflet
here
Airlines provide special care to passengers with special needs, to those who are not familiar with the local language or the language of the country they are travelling to, passengers travelling with infants or children.
For further information, please contact your airline >
Young passengers travelling on their own must be presented by their parent, legal guardian or authorized adult, to the airline’s ground personnel, who is responsible to take care and safely deliver the child to the airline’s cabin crew.
The parent or legal guarding must remain at the airport until the flight is airborne.
Upon arrival, the child is escorted by the airline staff to the parent or legal guardian waiting at the Arrivals Level. The necessary documentation returning responsibility to the parent is completed.
The parent is then escorted to the Baggage Reclaim Area to retrieve the child’s luggage.
For further information, please contact your airline >
Regulations and procedures for the transportation of pets - in the passenger cabin, in the aircraft hold or as freight - vary amongst airlines and destinations.
For further information it is recommended that you check with your airline.
Information and requirements published by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food can be found in Related Topics
A relative informative video is available also here >