Whilst flying can be slightly more complicated for the disabled traveller most airlines and airports are perfectly equipped and ready to make every journey easy and enjoyable.

Planning is the key, whether disabled or not. There are always lots of things to consider including:

• Vaccinations suitable for your intended trip
• Medication and any special equipment needs
• Medical insurance and how to get medical assistance if needed
• Travel insurance that covers any specialist equipment
• Any special transportation requirements that you may have
• Dietary requirements for the flight and your destination hotels
• Availability of appropriate disabled toilet facilities
• Suitability of any rented transport

Before booking your flight you should check that the airline provides any assistance that you may require and be certain to find out if this costs extra. Ensure that you pre-book any assistance that you may require to be certain that it is ready when and where you need it.

Parking for disabled travellers is often provided conveniently close to the airport terminal buildings. For example, when parking at Aberdeen Airport disabled travellers can pre-book either long stay or short stay parking, but both are actually in the same conveniently located car park near to the airport terminal building.

For most disabled travellers a safe and enjoyable journey can be guaranteed with a little forethought and preparation.

For more information visit: Flying with Disability

The number of passengers using Scotland’s third largest airport, Aberdeen, increased again last month. The total number of passengers using the airport in the first four months of 2008 has exceeded 1 million with 280,700 using the terminal during April. This is an increase of 1.6% on the figures for April 2007.

Aberdeen continues to be Scotland’s fastest growing airport offering flights to over 35 destinations. It is also the main heliport for the North Sea oil industry providing helicopter flights to and from the oil rigs for oil workers.

Up until March 2005 aircraft were not allowed to take off from the airport between the hours of 22:30 and 06:00 due to local noise restrictions. These were lifted by the local council, despite opposition from local residents. The airport is now set to undergo development to extend the main runway.

City councillors have agreed to an extra 300 metres that will enable larger, international aircraft to use the airport. Initially an extension of 125 metres is to be added to the runway. Whilst this expansion has been welcomed by the Scottish tourism board, it has met with strong opposition from environmental campaigners.

For the local tourism industry to continue to grow, expansion of Aberdeen airport is essential.

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There has been a marked increase in the number of international travellers returning to the UK with malaria. Health officials are encouraging travellers to ensure that they take appropriate anti-malaria precautions.

There are four main types of malaria, all spread by mosquitoes, present in around 90 countries. Malaria infects around 1 in 10 of the worlds population and a child dies of the disease every 30 seconds.

Symptoms
The first symptoms of malaria can easily be mistaken for a bout of flu. They can often include:

• Headache;
• Nausea;
• High Fever;
• Upset Stomach;
• Vomiting.

These can vary depending upon the specific type of malaria. Most forms will present symptoms within 7 to 14 days but Plasmodium malariae can take up to 30 days.

These early symptoms are often dismissed as unimportant, which is a mistake. Malaria symptoms tend to follow a cycle as the lifecycle of the blood borne parasite progresses. If untreated, further serious complications can arise including kidney failure, anaemia, paralysis and coma.

Increase in Number of Malaria Cases
The increase in malaria cases is due to a variety of factors including:

• The disease is developing a resistance to traditional treatments
• Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides
• Constraints on health care spending in some countries has led to malaria control activities being curtailed or reduced.

The increase in the number of people returning to the UK with malaria is on the increase because travellers are not taking adequate precautions.

Gap Year Travellers
One group who appear to be particularly at risk are young gap year students. There is a tendency amongst this group to think of themselves as impervious to disease and infection. They tend to embark upon adventurous trips, sometimes lasting many months, into regions of the world that have a high level of malaria infection and they do so with minimal preparation.

Preventing Malaria
The best prevention is avoidance. In particular, avoiding mosquito bites. In conjunction with repelling mosquitoes anyone travelling to a malarial region should take appropriate anti-malarial drugs. Here are just a few basic precautions:

• Wear Protective Clothing
• Use an effective insect repellent
• Use a repellent treated mosquito net
• Use the correct anti-malarial drugs for the region you are visiting (consult your doctor).

Further information and advice can be found on the Department of Health website: UK Department of Health on Malaria.

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