Special Assistance

NOTIFICATION

Pre -notification should be made at the time of booking the ticket.  Contact your airline for more information. http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/special-assistance/

Alternatively, passengers may also contact Customer Services at CoDA by:

Telephone: 02871 810784 (Extension:201)

Fax: 02871 813597

Email: info@cityofderryairport.com

 

AMBULIFT

An ambulift is available to convey passengers and wheelchairs up to/from the aircraft door. This makes for a smooth, efficient and convenient boarding/disembarking for passengers.

WHEELCHAIRS

Wheelchairs are available and should be requested with your airline/tour operator when booking your flight. They will then send this information through to the airport direct. You will be able to remain in your wheelchair until you are at the aircraft for boarding. Your wheelchair or an airport wheelchair will be available at the aircraft side as soon as you disembark.

Please note that whilst the airport provides wheelchairs on request to all passengers, each airline will have a different policy on the handling of wheelchair passengers.  For further information passengers are advised to check with the airline prior to booking.

ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE ASSISTANCE POINTS

The airport (CoDA) provides designated points of arrival and departure for passengers requiring assistance at the following locations:

• Customer Services desk, located in the main terminal building adjacent to the entrance
• At the check-in desks
• Via intercom located at the car park entrance barrier.
• At the arriving aircraft
• Please be aware at busy times, there may be a wait at these help points for assistance. If you are travelling with a family member or companion and they are happy to assist you, there will be wheelchairs available in the terminal for you to use. Please ask the agent at the Customer Services desk to provide a wheelchair.

ASSISTANCE DOGS

Assistance dogs are accepted for travel within the UK. When assistance dogs are travelling outside the UK, the dog must be registered with The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). Approval for the assistance dog to travel is required from the airline and holiday destination. For advice on flying with your assistance dog please contact:

The Civil Aviation Authority, in co-operation with UK airports, collects feedback on the quality of the assistance provided to passengers with reduced mobility.  We would be grateful if you would take the time to complete a short survey on the assistance provided to you on departure from, and on arrival back at, a UK airport.  To give your important feedback, please visit:  www.surveymonkey.com/s/PRMUK

 

KEY WALKING DISTANCES:

Distance From	To	Metres
Drop off Zone	Entrance Doors	19.5
Blue Badge Allocated Spaces	Entrance Doors	25
Entrance Doors	Customer Services Desk	18.5
Entrance Doors	Disabled Toilets	30.5
Entrance Doors	Check-in Desk/Special Asst Area	37.5
Customer Services Desk/Special Assistance Area	Security Central Search Area	9.5
Security Central Search Area	Departure Lounge/Gates/Toilets	23
Baggage Reclaim/Disabled Toilets/UKBF	Customer Services Desk	56.5
Arrivals’ Doors	Car Park	76
Exit Doors	Car Park	20

https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad

INSURANCE

Before you travel make sure that you have insurance which covers your equipment needed for the journey.
For more information you can view the European Commission video on the rights of passengers: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/videos/transport/2008_06_prm_en.htm

GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT

Public transport to/from airport 

City of Derry Airport is served by Translink.  Please click on the link for more details on Translink services to and from the airport:  http://www.translink.co.uk/Services/Ulsterbus-Service-Page

Taxis City Cabs are the official Airport Taxis and they are located outside the terminal building: http://www.citycabsderry.com/home

Car parking The most competitive rates for car parking at the airport can be obtained when you prebook online.  To pre-book your car parking online, please visit:  parking@cityofderryairport.com

USEFUL CONTACTS

Customer Services-

Telephone: 028 71810784 extension: 201
Email:  info@cityofderryairport.com

The UK government Code of Practise for access to air travel for disabled people may be found at www.dft.gov.uk.

AIRPORT OPENING HOURS

The Airport opening hours vary from day to day.  We recommend you contact :02871 810784, Extension: #201 or alternatively please e-mail us: info@cityofderryairport.com

INFORMATION ON HOW TO COMPLAIN

CoDA welcomes any feedback you may have about the assistance provided (comments, complaints or compliments).  This feedback can be made in writing via the feedback section of the website; by post or by e-mail.

Please contact our dedicated Customer Services Manager at City of Derry Airport, CoDA Operations Ltd, Airport Road, Eglinton, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland, BT47 3GY.

Telephone:  + 44 (0) 2871 810784

In the case of a complaint being made, an acknowledgement will be sent within 5 working days. A thorough investigation will follow within the next 10 working days. The complaint should be fully responded to within 28 working days.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Car Park Transfer and access to/from Terminal

All passenger facilities are located on the ground floor. CoDA provides services and assistance, including:

• Wide parking dedicated spaces, clearly signed within our car parking facility opposite the main terminal entrance;
• Help intercom keys are located at all entrance, exit barriers and pay stations. Please contact the Customer Services Desk agent at the entrance intercom if you require assistance from the car park;
• Alternatively if you do not require assistance from the car park, please report to our Customer Services desk located on the left side of the main concourse at the front of the terminal;
• A “drop off “ zone is located adjacent to the main terminal building;
• The car park is accessible by means of low level kerbs and ramps in close proximity to the terminal entrance;
• If assistance is requested to/from the car park to/from the terminal building, a member of the Customer Services staff will oblige, giving the passenger the option of using their own wheelchair or an airport wheelchair.
• Discuss with the Customer Services Desk agent, your preferred means of access through the airport;
• Concessions are available on car parking fees for Disabled Badge holders. To avail of these rates please make your way to the customer services desk located in the main terminal;
• If you need to take your disabled parking badge on your onwards journey, please present it at the Customer Service desk agent who will supply you with a temporary badge to place in your car whilst parked in the airport car park.
• Assistance will also be given to visually impaired passengers, hearing impaired passengers and nervous passengers 

Customers presenting their Blue Badge at the designated assistance point can avail of 2 hours complimentary parking.

If you should wish to use your Blue Badge when you reach your destination, our staff at the Customer Services Desk will provide you with a temporary Badge. This temporary badge must be placed in your vehicle where it is clearly visible until your return; enabling you to take your official Badge on your onward journey.

Mobility Equipment

For passengers requiring assistance who present themselves at the airport with an electric mobility aid, a process has been put in place to ensure the safe carriage of their aid as specified in the CAA’s safety notice  SN-2012/003: Safety Requirements Applicable to the Carriage of Electric Mobility Aids. If the PRM uses an airport wheelchair their mobility aid will be tagged and removed for loading in the hold. If the mobility aid is electric the agent is required to attach the electric mobility aid tag as detailed in SN-2012/003.

• When the written instructions for making the electric mobility aid device safe have not been received from the aircraft operator and are not available from the PRM, subsequently LDY staff will refer to BHTA’s log which contains the information required by airport operators and aircraft operators to facilitate the safe carriage of any electric mobility aid;
• On arrival of flight, if the passenger’s mobility aid has been damaged, the Airport will provide a temporary manual replacement. A report will be provided to the airline to facilitate claims.

Your transfer through the Terminal – check-in, security and boarding 

• If required a dedicated customer services agent will escort the PRM through the check-in process;
• A Customer services agent will accompany the PRM through to security central search using the fast track entrance at security;
• During the security process PRMs, who are unable to walk unaided can remain in the wheelchair but still be inspected as per the security requisite.
• Medical equipment will remain with the passenger, however the airline must be notified and a medical note must be presented at the Security Search Area;
• A private search room is available upon request;
• A Terminal Services agent will then position the PRM in the designated area at the boarding gate for easy transfer to the aircraft. This transfer will be completed using our PRM transfer vehicle;
• Assistance is given from the Airport staff when the PRM requires to be taken to/from the aircraft;

Airport Facilities

Toilets adapted for special assistance customers are located throughout the terminal and these toilets are fitted with an emergency pull cord;

• Hearing point – Induction loop for hearing impaired;
• A dedicated Help Point is situated at the Customer Services desk located on left of main concourse.
• The airport facilities include Inductive Loop System, Ambulifts for embarking and disembarking aircraft, wheelchairs and PRM trained staff.
• Arrange for stop and pick-up if you wish to shop or go for a snack/drink or if you wish to avail of toilet facilities.
• Staff will help you with your baggage on arrival and departure.
• If the PRM requires a lift on to the aircraft, two members of the Ramp team will facilitate this by means of the Ambi-lift. An ambulift is available to convey passengers and wheelchairs up to/from the aircraft door. This makes for a smooth, efficient and convenient boarding/disembarking for passengers.
• Wheelchairs are available and should be requested with your airline/tour operator when booking your flight. They will then send this information through to the airport direct. You will be able to remain in your wheelchair until you are at the aircraft for boarding. Your wheelchair or an airport wheelchair will be available at the aircraft side as soon as you disembark.
• Please note that whilst the airport provides wheelchairs on request to all passengers, each airline will have a different policy on the handling of wheelchair passengers.  For further information passengers are advised to check with the airline prior to booking.

Autism NI

On 28^th November 2017, Autism NI provided Autism Impact Award training to front line staff at City of Derry Airport. In addition to our staff completing this very worthwhile course, our front-line supervisors were awarded an AQA qualification, making them Autism Awareness champions.

By completing the Autism Award, our organisation is committing to:

1. Staff Training to ensure all staff are Autism Aware and can provide support to an individual with Autism, if needed.
2. Providing adjustments to the environment to help individuals with Autism use the premises
3. Ensuring appropriate and individualised customer service and communication that assists people with Autism
4. Creating an environment where people feel comfortable disclosing their diagnosis of Autism should they wish to. This includes customers and employees who have a diagnosis of Autism.

Click here for more information on Assistance for Passengers with Hidden Disabilities

Consulting with Local Disability Groups

To ensure that CoDA meets its obligations under Regulation (EC) No.1107/2006: Rights of Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility when travelling by air, CoDA liaises regularly with the Consumer Council for NI (CCNI).

The CCNI protects and promotes the interests of passengers travelling to, from or within Northern Ireland and provides regular feedback from organizations representing local Disabled Groups. This includes identifying areas where further changes or improvements could be made. CoDA undertakes implementing any recommendations provided by the CCNI on improving our services to ensure we are doing our utmost to meet the needs and requirements of anyone with a disability travelling through our Airport.

On 15th November 2022, the CCNI invited organisations to visit CoDA, to work with us to develop and improve the service that passengers with disabilities and Hidden Disabilities receive when travelling through our airport. This included conducting an audit of the CoDA website to investigate any areas for improvement to enhance the user experience for any online visitors with any form of disability.

The organisations represented included:

• IMTAC (Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee) – providing us with feedback on issues that affect the mobility of older people and disabled people.
• Cedar Foundation – helping us understand how we can make the airport journey easier for people with disabilities such as, autism and brain injury.
• The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association – Informing us on how we can assist our customers who are affected by sight loss, including blind and partially sighted people, their families, friends and carers.
• North West Forum of People with Disabilities – This is a local group who provide us direction on how we can assist people with a physical, sensory or mental impairment, with learning difficulties or hidden disabilities.
• GlenOakes (formerly Foyle Disability Resource Centre) – giving us advice on care services for people with a physical and or sensory disability and acquired brain injury.
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) – providing us with practical information about how to assist people with hearing loss, deafness, tinnitus and ear problems.
• Alzheimer’s Society – educating on the various levels of dementia and providing guidance on how to best assist any one who is dealing with early or progressed dementia when travelling.

CoDA held a follow up Accessibility Forum on 22nd June 2023 – please see the meeting minutes below.

The next meeting will be in November 2023 which will take the form of a visit to the airport.

Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Scheme

City of Derry Airport introduced the Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Scheme as an aid to any passengers or visitors to the airport with a disability or impairment this is not visible. As the first NI airport to launch this initiative, Sunflower lanyards are readily available at all key customer entry points (Terminal Entrance, Customer Services, Check-in, International Arrivals and Domestic Arrivals) to allow anyone who would like to provide a subtle but visible sign to staff and other passengers that they may require some extra time or assistance during their airport journey.

Further information on the Sunflower Lanyard is available on the Sunflower Hidden Disabilities website.

 

ASpace2, Eglinton

ASpace2 is a nurse-led community initiative in Eglinton which supports people with learning disabilities and physical and sensory disabilities. Located just 3.3 miles from City of Derry Airport, ASpace2 provides a Multi-sensory Centre which creates a nurturing environment and offers a wonderful range of sensory experiences, therapeutic and developmental opportunities, and support to visitors.

City of Derry Airport is proud to work with this organisation in providing a local safe haven for passengers with these types of disabilities and their families or carers seeking relaxation before departing on a flight or providing a place of refuge after arriving at the airport, particularly if there is a long onward journey from the airport.

ASpace2 also encompasses a friendly coffee shop and up-cycling furniture workshop and saleroom in addition to the Multi-sensory Centre on-site.

The opening hours are as follows:

MONDAY	09:15 – 17:00
TUESDAY	09:15 – 17:00
WEDNESDAY	09:15 – 17:00
THURSDAY	09:15 – 17:00
FRIDAY	09:15 – 17:00
SATURDAY	10:00 – 16:00
SUNDAY	Closed

For more information or to book a place at ASpace2, please visit the ASpace2 website or call the centre directly on 028 7181 3607. Please note, all sessions must be booked in advance.