The High Authority for the Fight against Discrimination and for Equality (Halde) [homepage, in French], announced that it would sue easyJet [corporate website], the low cost airline company, for allegedly discriminating against a handicapped passenger. Its president, Jeannette Bougrab [Rfi profile], told the press [La Croix report, in French] that the body would request a court order forcing the airline company to provide information it has been demanding for several months now. The company will have to justify its refusal to let a paraplegic woman board one of its planes last March on the grounds that she was not accompanied, arguing that this contravened its safety obligations. Bougrab reminded that the anti-discrimination rules were unequivocal, though they might know exceptions : an airline company may not turn away a passenger on the basis of a disability.

The Halde convened specially on Monday to discuss the themes of handicap and health, which represent the second most frequent motive for complaints of discrimination, particularly in terms of access to employment. The case involving easyJet marks the anti-discrimination body’s determination to pressure transport companies to adapt to disabled passengers.