Electric Wheelchair User Denied Boarding on Japan LCC ‘Peach’ Due to ‘Visible Battery’ Problem

By Barrier Free Japan, The Mainichi Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

April 15 2024

TOKYO – On April 5th, a Taiwanese national with a physical disability attempted to board a Taiwan-bound flight of low-cost carrier (LCC) Peach Aviation (headquartered in Osaka Prefecture) at Naha Airport in Okinawa, but was denied boarding because the battery in their electric wheelchair was not visible from the outside. They complained that this was a discriminatory response, as airlines differ in their response to the issue of visual confirmation of batteries.

The passenger who was unable to board the flight was Lin Chun Chieh, 43, a Taiwanese national whom has osteogenesis imperfecta, an intractable disease that causes bones to break easily, and uses an electric wheelchair to get around. Lin came to Japan on April 1 on a different airline using the same wheelchair to participate in an event in Okinawa including people with disabilities. They were scheduled to return to Taiwan by Peach on April 5th.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), batteries, which can ignite, may be dangerous goods prohibited by the Civil Aeronautics Law, and airline companies set conditions on the carriage of such batteries. Peach’s website provides information for passengers with physical disabilities: “If you are unable to visually check the battery, please bring a document or other means that provides detailed information.

The battery in Lin Chun Chieh’s wheelchair is covered by a cover and cannot be seen unless it is opened with a special tool. For this reason, the manufacturer’s instruction manual, which includes the name of the battery, was sent by e-mail in advance.

According to Lin Chun Chieh, who was waiting in front of the boarding gate at Naha Airport just before departure when they was told by Peach staff that they could not board because they could not see the battery itself. Lin told the staff that they had informed them of the battery information in advance and showed them the manual they had brought, but the decision was unchanged.

The next day, on the 6th. Lin returned to Taiwan on a different airline. Lin told the interviewer, “I have been to many countries and flown many airlines, but this is the first time I have been denied boarding because of my battery. My wheelchair is my “leg. I am very shocked at the way they handled this situation.”

The Disabled People International (DPI) Japan Council (Tokyo), a Tokyo-based organization for people with disabilities, was consulted by Lin Chun Chieh and on April 8th submitted a request to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism to confirm the facts.

Sato Satoshi, executive director of DPI Japan, said, “There are many electric wheelchairs whose batteries are not visible because of the cover. Requiring visual confirmation is not in line with the actual situation.

According to Peach, for safety reasons, the company’s internal regulations require not only document checks but also visual checks of the battery. The company also states in the wheelchair confirmation form on its website that it may not accept wheelchairs whose batteries cannot be disconnected without tools. In response to our interview, he said, “I have no feelings of discrimination, and I am very sorry if you felt that way. We are considering internally whether we can make the site a little easier to understand.”

On April 1, the revised Law for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities came into effect, placing an obligation on private businesses to give reasonable consideration to persons with disabilities. It also encourages businesses and persons with disabilities to consider measures together through constructive dialogue. MLIT officials state, “We are currently confirming whether or not this is in violation of the Law for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities and other related laws.