Special Assistance

Our friendly staff can provide the services you need at the airport, when boarding, disembarking, and during the flight.

If you plan to travel with a personal wheelchair, extra oxygen bottles or an assistance animal, please provide Air Belgium with all necessary information. You may contact us at [email protected].

Air Belgium abides by the regulations in force in the non-EU member countries that it departs from or arrives in. For all departures or arrivals at airports within the European Union, Air Belgium, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, may refuse to carry a passenger with reduced mobility only in certain circumstances:

• To meet applicable safety requirements;
• If the size of the aircraft or its doors makes the embarkation or carriage of that person physically impossible.

What assistance is provided?

Before the flight

Special assistance is available at all airports. We can help you with check-in and with your baggage (including mobility devices):

• by escorting you to the gate (with transport if needed);
• with boarding the aircraft (right up to your seat if needed);
• with disembarkation;
• with retrieval of baggage (including mobility devices).

If you require special assistance, please make sure you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure time. A person who has booked special assistance may travel with 2 personal mobility devices free of charge as part of checked baggage allowance. A personal mobility device may be a wheelchair, mobility scooter, other personal transporter or walking aid – either manual or electric.

We are happy to provide priority boarding, which means that you board first and receive a personal welcome from the crew who will also go through the safety instructions with you.

During the flight

Air Belgium will provide you with a seat that is most suitable for the type of assistance you require. For safety reasons, emergency exit seats are not available if you require assistance. Mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walking aids must be checked in to the hold. Crutches and walking sticks are allowed to be carried in the cabin.

If required, a crew member can assist you to and from the lavatory, and back into your seat. They are unable to assist you whilst using the lavatory.

After the flight

Upon arrival at your destination, once all passengers have left the aircraft, a member of our assistance team will help you disembark. They will accompany you through immigration and collect baggage for you from the baggage hall.

Once you have your baggage, we will be happy to escort you to the arrival hall.

Accessible travel for all special needs

Motor-based disability

You are permitted, within your free baggage allowance, to bring 2 mobility devices with you, such as a manual or electric wheelchair. If your device is electric powered, Air Belgium will advise you of the regulations when you contact our team to reserve a space in the hold for your mobility device.

On the day of your departure, please be present at the check-in counter no later than 2 hours before your flight’s departure, to allow time for the acceptance of your wheelchair or other device.

Sensory-based disability

Travelling with a guide dog or assistance animal

Guide dogs are welcome on board Air Belgium flights. You can bring your guide dog with you, free of charge, provided the following conditions are met:

• You have received approval for carriage by contacting our customer service;
• Hygiene requirements are adhered to in the departure and arrival halls, and on board;
• A dog tag or harness must be clearly visible to show the animal’s function as a guide dog;
• The dog may travel without a muzzle;
• It must always remain leashed;
• The dog must be well-behaved in all circumstances;

Your guide dog may not occupy a seat and is forbidden from occupying the space near the emergency exits. We will do our best to give you the most suitable seat – with space in front for the dog.

Remember that you are transporting the animal into another country, so please ensure that you have all necessary documents and evidence of vaccinations in your possession when travelling.

Mental disability

We are aware that travelling alone can be quite stressful and complex, and someone with a mental disability may have difficulty dealing with this situation. If the person travelling is likely to get stressed, or suffers from memory loss or disorientation, we strongly recommend that they travel with a companion.

However, mentally incapacitated passengers shall only be approved if the passenger has an escort. Exception to this rule is in those cases when an institution, or a doctor issue a statement stating the patient is capable of traveling, on his or her own.

Respiratory difficulties

Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC)

When a respiratory device is needed for your travel, please notify us at least 72 hours before your flight, to ensure that you will be able to take your device on board.

Only approved portable oxygen concentrator are permitted on board. Please check if your oxygen generator is approved for our aircraft:

• You must receive approval from Air Belgium via [email protected];
• The POC must be powered by non-spillable or lithium batteries (for POC powered by lithium batteries, each battery may not exceed 160Wh);
• If the POC is used during the entire flight, you must make sure that sufficient battery power is available for the entire flight, considering possible delays or irregularities. Be advised to bring spare batteries with you, but please check the limits on lithium batteries;
• You will not be allowed to connect the POC to any power outlets on board the aircraft;
• The device must be stowed on board in compliance with Air Belgium’s cabin baggage safety regulations;
• You must ensure that all POC batteries transported in accordance with the Air Belgium dangerous goods procedures.

If further details are required you can refer to this website. https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/cabin_safety/portable_oxygen

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Device (CPAP)

• The CPAP device must be switched off and stowed during taxi, take off, landing and in situations where the crew deems it necessary.
• For CPAP devices powered by lithium batteries, each battery may not exceed 160Wh.
• If the CPAP is used during the entire flight, the passenger shall make sure that sufficient battery power is available for the entire flight, considering possible delays or irregularities.
• The passenger will not be allowed to connect the CPAP to any power outlets on board the aircraft.
• The CPAP device must be stowed on board in compliance with Air Belgium cabin baggage safety regulations.
• The passenger must ensure that spare batteries for the CPAP are transported in accordance with the Air Belgium dangerous goods procedures.

Personal oxygen tanks

If you require your own personal oxygen tank, you must notify Air Belgium at [email protected] at least 72 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure.

Other disabilities

Passengers with paralysis or missing upper limbs

If you are paralyzed or missing one or two upper limbs but can manage your needs on the flight by yourself, you are welcome to travel without a travel companion. We can provide all necessary assistance at the airport.

Please note that whilst on board, our Cabin Crew can assist you with your baggage but cannot assist you with eating or taking medication and are unable to give any assistance in the lavatory. If you require this assistance, then we strongly recommend that you travel with a companion.

Body brace or brace seat

If you need to use a body brace or a brace seat for your flight, we require that you notify Air Belgium at least 72 hours before scheduled departure