Accessible travel from Düsseldorf Airport: assistance, booking & parking
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Flying should be possible for everyone – including people who use a wheelchair, have difficulty walking, have a visual or hearing impairment or need support for other reasons. Düsseldorf Airport has an assistance service that accompanies you from your arrival point at the airport all the way to the aircraft. For everything to run smoothly, timely booking and good planning are key. In this guide you will learn what rights you have, how to request help, what happens to your wheelchair and mobility aids, and how to park so that the way into the terminal is as short as possible.
Key facts at a glance
- People with disabilities or reduced mobility are entitled to free assistance at EU airports (Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006).
- Notify your airline, travel agency or tour operator of your needs at least 48 hours before departure.
- Register electric wheelchairs with the airline in advance, stating battery type and dimensions.
- With valet parking you hand over your car near the terminal and avoid changing vehicles.
Your rights: EU Regulation 1107/2006
The rights of air passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility are set out in EU Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006. It applies to flights from EU airports such as Düsseldorf. The key points:
- No discrimination: airlines and tour operators may in principle not refuse your booking or carriage because of a disability. Exceptions exist only for safety reasons or if the size of the aircraft makes carriage physically impossible.
- Free help at the airport: the airport is obliged to help you on departure, when changing flights and on arrival – at no extra cost.
- Carriage of mobility aids: up to two mobility aids such as wheelchairs are usually carried free of charge.
- Notification: to make sure help is available, you should notify your needs at least 48 hours before departure.
Even without prior notification, the airport must make an effort to help you. However, support cannot then be guaranteed, and there may be waiting times.
Who can use the assistance service?
The assistance service is aimed at anyone whose mobility is limited when using air transport. This includes, for example:
- Wheelchair users
- People who cannot walk or stand for long, for example due to age, an injury or illness
- People with visual or hearing impairments
- People with cognitive impairments or mental health conditions who need help finding their way
- Travellers with temporary limitations, for example after an operation
You do not need to show a disability card. What matters is that you need support.
How to request help
- State it when booking: many airlines ask about special needs when you book. State exactly what help you need.
- Notify at least 48 hours in advance: if you did not state anything when booking, contact the airline, travel agency or tour operator at least 48 hours before departure.
- Describe it precisely: can you climb stairs? Walk short distances? Do you need help to your seat on the aircraft? The more precise the information, the better the support will fit.
- Register mobility aids: state the type, weight and dimensions of your wheelchair. For electric wheelchairs, the airline needs details of the battery.
- Keep the confirmation: ask for confirmation of your request and take it with you.
The airline passes your request on to the airport, which organises the assistance service. The airport publishes up-to-date information on meeting points and procedures on dus.com.
On the day of travel: the procedure
Arriving at the airport
At the airport there are designated points where you can report and request help. The assistance service collects you from there. Allow enough time: the help has to be coordinated, and on peak days many travellers rely on support. The meeting time depends on the requirements of the airline and the airport.
Check-in, security, boarding
Assistance staff accompany you to check-in, through security and to the gate. Travellers who need support usually board first. For aircraft not parked at a jet bridge, there are special vehicles or lifting platforms. If you bring your own wheelchair, you can usually use it up to the aircraft; it is then loaded into the hold.
Security
At security, staff take your needs into account wherever possible. If you cannot pass through the scanner or detector, you will be checked in another way. Tell staff if you have implants, a pacemaker or medicines with you. More about the procedure in the guide Security check at Düsseldorf Airport.
Wheelchairs and mobility aids
- Secure removable parts: remove cushions, footrests and bags and take them as hand luggage, or fasten them securely.
- Labelling: attach a name tag with contact details to the wheelchair.
- Handling instructions: a note explaining how to fold and transport it helps the ground staff.
- Electric wheelchair: notify the airline in advance of battery type, power and dimensions; bring the user manual.
- Report damage immediately: if your wheelchair is damaged, report it straight away at the baggage service desk. More in the guide Lost or damaged luggage.
Medicines and medical devices
Medicines you need belong in your hand luggage – enough for the whole trip plus a few days’ reserve. Liquid medicines are usually allowed above 100 ml if you need them during the journey. Bring a doctor’s certificate, ideally in English. Medical devices such as oxygen concentrators or CPAP machines are subject to special airline rules that you must clarify in advance. More on liquids in the guide Liquids in hand luggage.
Assistance dogs
Recognised assistance dogs, such as guide dogs, may travel free of charge in the cabin with many airlines. The conditions and required documents vary by airline and destination country. Clarify this early and find out about the entry requirements for animals.
Arriving and parking with minimal barriers
Getting to the airport is often the biggest hurdle. With your own car you are flexible and can easily take mobility aids with you. What matters then is where you park:
- Valet parking: you drive to the provider’s meeting point near the terminal, hand over the car and have only a short way to go. No change to a shuttle bus. Discuss special needs in advance with the provider, for example an adapted vehicle or hand controls. More on valet parking at Düsseldorf Airport.
- Shuttle parking: before booking, ask the provider whether the shuttle is wheelchair-accessible and whether help getting on and off is possible.
- Terminal car parks: the airport provides disabled parking spaces in its car parks. The airport states the conditions on dus.com.
At Friend-Park you can see each provider’s facilities transparently and compare the final price including service fee: Find parking at Düsseldorf Airport. Questions about the handover are answered in our FAQ on vehicle handover.
Companions
Travelling with a companion often makes things easier. Some airlines offer discounts for necessary companions; ask your airline. If you only need a companion as far as the airport, you can be handed over to the assistance service there. People picking you up should know where to meet you on arrival – more in the guide Dropping off and picking up at Düsseldorf Airport.
Planning your time with assistance
With assistance you should plan more generously than other travellers. Allow time for the parking handover, the way to the meeting point and the agreed reporting time. How to calculate your personal schedule is explained in the guide When should I be at Düsseldorf Airport?
On arrival
You are also entitled to help on your return: assistance staff collect you at the aircraft and accompany you to baggage reclaim and on to the exit or an agreed point. Let your parking provider know if it takes longer, so that the shuttle waits or the car is ready at the valet meeting point.
If something goes wrong
If assistance does not arrive as agreed or you were refused help, contact the staff on site and note down the time and circumstances. You can then complain to the airline or the airport. In Germany, the enforcement body for Regulation 1107/2006 is the Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt).
Checklist for accessible travel
- Support needs stated when booking or at least 48 hours in advance
- Wheelchair and mobility aids registered with dimensions and battery details
- Medicines plus reserve in your hand luggage, doctor’s certificate
- Confirmation of your request with you
- Parking with a short route booked, special requirements agreed with the provider
- Generous time buffer planned
Conclusion: well registered, well travelled
Thanks to EU-wide rights and the assistance service, accessible travel from Düsseldorf is very possible. The key is timely notification and a journey with short distances. With parking booked in advance, ideally valet parking, your trip starts in a relaxed way. All parking options are on the page Parking at Düsseldorf Airport.
