Air France blasted for refusing to carry wheelchair

An Air France Hop! Embraer 190 aircraft. Photo / 123RF

A disabled rights campaigner has blasted Air France for nearly ruining his honeymoon, after it refused to allow his electric wheelchair on board.

Gordon Aikman, of Edinburgh, who suffers from motor neurone disease and is unable to walk, started a social media campaign against the airline after he was told his wheelchair was too large for the luggage hold of its Embraer 190 aircraft.

Mr Aikman and his husband Joe Pike had to cancel their flights two days before they were due to fly to Paris for their honeymoon.

The 30-year-old had spent more than a week trying to arrange the transport of his vehicle and did not receive a response until about 48 hours before his departure date.

Grrrrrreat! 'Sorry sir, you can't take your legs on this @AirFranceUK flight' Thanks guys! #AirFranceFAIL pic.twitter.com/xdynHl6PYC

— Gordon Aikman (@GordonAikman) February 12, 2016

The email he received last Friday said the dimensions of the electronic wheelchair were "too big" to transport on the aircraft - which triggered a series of tweets from Mr Aikman, who has raised more than £400,000 towards research into his condition.

"Grrrrrreat! "Sorry sir, you can't take your legs on this @AirFranceUK flight" Thanks guys! #AirFranceFAIL", he tweeted.

He then added, "Sorry sir, your legs are too long - you can't fly with @AirFranceUK today".

'Sorry sir, your legs are too long - you can't fly with @AirFranceUK today' #AirFranceFAIL pic.twitter.com/kFZufh6A5T

— Gordon Aikman (@GordonAikman) February 12, 2016

However, budget airline easyJet confirmed it could accommodate the wheelchair and Mr Aikman and his partner flew to Paris on Monday.

He even received some celebrity support, with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling tweeting him her best wishes for his honeymoon.

@GordonAikman @easyJet @easyJet @AirFranceUK @airfrance @AirFranceFR Have a wonderful time! X

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 15, 2016

"The treatment I have had from Air France has been appalling," he told The Courier.

"Life isn't worth living without my electric wheelchair, but Air France has made no effort to resolve the situation whatsoever, it has just ignored me, has offered no alternative."

In a statement to MailOnline Travel, Air France said it would send an apology email to Mr Aikman and he would receive a full refund on tickets and baggage charges.

"We regret that it was not possible to accept the transportation of Mr Aikman's wheelchair due to the dimensions exceeding the capacity of the [Embraer 190] aircraft," it said.

"Air France had been in correspondence with the passenger trying to find a solution by possibly reducing the height of the wheelchair. However, due to the maximum acceptable height being 71cm this was not possible. Regretfully Air France was not able to convey this information to Mr Aikman quickly enough."

Nice! British Empire Medal from @BritishMonarchy @EdinburghCC #bling 🍾🍾🎖🎖 https://t.co/XJzPkADYMi #MND #ALS pic.twitter.com/TOOxc9Y5vf

— Gordon Aikman (@GordonAikman) December 3, 2015

Mr Aikman was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2014 and depends on caregivers.

It is a terminal and progressive condition that attacks the motor neurones in the brain, leading to weakness and wasting. Eventually, those suffering from the disease lose their ability to walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

Mr Aikman launched a charity, Gordon's Fightback, which raises funds for research and awareness of the condition.

Last December he was awarded a British Empire Medal for his work.

- nzherald.co.nz