Low-Cost Carrier easyJet’s Assisted Travel Advisory Board (EATAB), has relaunched and welcomed new members.

The airline established the group in 2012 to provide independent guidance and strategic advice on the evolving needs of passengers requiring special assistance and directly contributing to ongoing improvements for customers, for example the introduction of easyJet’s onboard cabin aisle wheelchair.

The independent advisory group is chaired by former Cabinet Minister, now Member of the House of Lords, David Blunkett.

New members of the board are Josh Wintersgill, a British entrepreneur, aspiring Paralympian and inventor of the ‘easyTravelseat’ which enables wheelchair users to transfer with more safety, dignity and comfort in and out of their wheelchairs to an aircraft seat; and Emily Yates, an accessibility consultant and broadcaster who advises on disability issues.

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Both Wintersgill and Yates use their lived experience as wheelchair users to change the way businesses perceive disability for the better. They join long-standing board members Roberto Castiglioni MBE, an aviation accessibility policy expert and Ann Frye, an international specialist in meeting the transport needs of a diverse range of travellers requiring assistance.

The work of EATAB supports easyJet’s mission of making travel easy for everyone whatever their needs, from the moment a passenger books to when they complete their journey, in partnership with airports and their special assistance providers.

David Blunkett said: “I am pleased to chair the reconstitution of the Advisory Board, welcome the new members who will provide invaluable advice and have the continued support of the easyJet team and its leadership. The Board’s members will work hard to help to continue to transform the passenger experience, and support the airline in its commitment to bring about continuous improvement.”

Antonio Shabbir, Customer Experience Director for easyJet said: “It’s our mission to make travel easy and accessible, no matter what our customers’ needs and so I’m delighted to be relaunching our advisory Board, which has played a key role in helping us to drive improvements in accessibility over the years and we are grateful for the support of all members both existing and new to continue this important work.”

The airline carries around 2000 customers each day across its network who require special assistance – more than 760,000 this year.