Airport spat over crutch flight ban (3)

"But he refused when we proposed this and insisted on using the steps," said Xu.

According to Xu, both sides finally reached a compromise as Li used his crutches to board, and after that he handed them to the crew to be locked away.

"Li's flight went smoothly later on," said Xu.

Chang Xiao, who sings in a Beijing-based disabled art troupe, told the Global Times many disabled people use special crutches made with thick steel tubes which are heavy and can be dangerous.

"I can understand the airline's choice," said Chang.

However, he said that his troupe had just returned from a tour in the US, and Delta Air Lines did not ban his colleagues from using crutches to board.

"They just locked them away during the flight," he said.

Other airline companies differ in their approach to this issue.

China Eastern Airlines customer service said passengers should consult airports first, and as long as the airport and flight crew agreed, they are allowed to bring crutches on board.

According to Cathay Pacific's official website, no limit on mobility aids and assistive devices are required for its US flights and for European flights, every passenger can carry one assistive device and two pieces of mobility aids per passenger.

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