VASCO: The Airport Authority of India (AAI), Goa’s ground handling agency has suspended the staffer, who allegedly extorted Rs 4,000 from a passenger with mobility issue for using a wheelchair facility, last week.
O Heraldo had highlighted the plight of Katherine Frances Wolfie, 62, air passenger with reduced mobility travelling from Dabolim Airport to Gatwick Airport in UK with TUI Airlines, who had written to the AAI that two airport staff, who were providing special assistance had extorted Rs 4,000 from her.
Following a complaint via email on February 4, the AAI Goa conducted investigations and found that a staff loader of ground handling agency was assisting the PRM passenger and two persons of trolley retrieving agency were found interacting with the passenger against the norms. The ground handling agency has suspended the staff, who assisted the PRM passenger. The Airport Entry Permit (AEP) of two trolley retrievers has been confiscated by AAI Goa.
AAI has asserted that all passengers in wheelchair or Persons with Reduced Mobility(PRM) assistance and trolley retrieval service at the Dabolim airport are available free of cost. ‘NO TIPS PLEASE’ messages are being prominently displayed in the terminal building for awareness of passengers, informed AAI Goa.
The international airport has several facilities for PRM including dedicated help desk towards city side, dedicated pick-up and drop points, ramps, tactile flooring, Braille in elevators, rest rooms, accessible drinking water facility, etc, informed AAI Goa.
