Civil Society Covenant: Accessible aviation with AATFG
Co-designing accessible aviation through partnership.
Established in November 2024 and chaired by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, the Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group (AATFG) united industry, the regulator, and consumer advocates. This Department for Transport-facilitated group aimed to co-design practical improvements for disabled and less mobile air travellers.
The initiative emphasises inclusive collaboration, actively engaging civil society, disability charities, and individuals with lived experience through roundtables, direct feedback, and deep dives. This approach directly contributes to Labour鈥檚 manifesto commitment to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, ensuring their views and voices are at the heart of all policy and action. The emphasis was on practical changes and ongoing dialogue with disabled passengers to ensure meaningful, sustainable improvements.
This inclusive approach has positively influenced government-civil society relations. Actively involving disability advocacy groups and individuals, has enabled a collaborative and inclusive process. This aims to build trust and mutual understanding, where disabled citizens鈥� concerns are heard.
Notable achievements included establishing direct engagement with disabled individuals and charities, fostering a collaborative policy approach, and setting a precedent for meaningfully including marginalised groups in policies that directly affect them.