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May 20, 2004

EasyJet apology to deaf group

From: ic Liverpool - Southport,England,UK - May 20, 2004

Liverpool Echo

A GROUP of deaf holiday-makers from Liverpool, thrown off an easyJet flight because of their disability, have won an apology and compensation.

The 11 friends, all members of Merseyside Society for Deaf People, had to leave a flight to Amsterdam in October last year because the captain decided they were a risk to other passengers' safety.

The group complained they were denied their right of passage because of their disability - and today were each given £500 and free flights in compensation as the company apologised and asked the society to give its staff extra disability awareness training.

Geoff Noon, on behalf of the holidaymakers, added: "easyJet has apologised profusely for the humiliation and embarrassment they caused.

"But everyone involved still feels very bitter about this incident."

A spokeswoman for easyJet said the captain of the Amsterdam flight took the decision on the basis of rules which state that flight crew must be able to evacuate the plane within 90 seconds.

The group were later allowed on a different flight after another easyJet pilot overturned the decision, but not before losing precious hours of their holiday.

She said: "It was a mis-take and we're holding our hands up."

© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2004