The use of wheelchairs on flights to India has increased... Is it real necessity or a sense of privilege?

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Seong Yeon-jae = Recently, while waiting for a flight to India at an overseas airport, I encountered a slightly unfamiliar sight.

There were particularly many passengers sitting in wheelchairs.

It wasn't just one or two people.

Airport employees were pushing wheelchairs lined up one by one and moving them towards the boarding gate.

I was curious. Why are there so many wheelchairs on flights to India?

When I looked into it, I found out that it wasn't just the reporter's question.

In overseas online communities, posts are frequently posted about the number of Indian passengers taking wheelchairs.

Recently, a post was posted on Reddit titled ‘Why are there always so many wheelchairs on flights to India?’ and it received over 250 comments.

Reactions were mixed, ranging from explanations that it was because there were many elderly passengers to suspicions that they were trying to avoid long lines.

What is interesting is that the Indian media also raises similar questions.

Last September, the Times of India covered the issue of wheelchair access on flights to India, citing aviation industry insiders saying some passengers are requesting wheelchairs to avoid long lines, navigate distant gates, and navigate crowded airports with staff guidance.

The article title was also quite straightforward.

The purpose was, ‘Do I need help or is it a matter of a sense of privilege?’

Of course, you can't judge a wheelchair user by just looking at their appearance, saying, "Why are you riding when you're fine?"

Even though they can walk normally, there are quite a few elderly people or people with joint or cardiovascular diseases who have difficulty moving long distances.

Another influence is the fact that many Indian parents take long-distance flights to visit their children living in the United States and Europe.

The problem is that the number of Indian passengers is particularly high compared to other countries.

Then why does this happen?

If you apply for wheelchair service, airport staff will accompany you and provide support during security screening, immigration, and boarding.

In many cases, separate medical evidence is not required.

It is an essential system for those in need, but to others, it may be seen as a way to avoid waiting in line at the airport and travel more comfortably.

That's why there is also a view that connects it with the 'VIP culture' that has been pointed out for a long time in Indian society.

The Indian media has criticized the practice of expecting different treatment from the general public, not only among politicians, celebrities, and businessmen, but also people with a certain social status, using the term 'VIP culture' or 'sense of privilege'.

It is pointed out that although caste and economic class are not completely the same today, there remains some social culture that is accustomed to treating people differently depending on their status.

The problem is that the more people like this, the more harm can be done to those who really need it.

In fact, on an Air India flight from New York to Mumbai in 2024, there were 32 requests for wheelchairs, but only 15 wheelchairs were ready upon arrival.

An elderly passenger waiting for a wheelchair eventually collapsed and died while walking.

Afterwards, Indian authorities imposed a fine on Air India for not properly complying with relevant regulations.

An airline official said, "We cannot request a medical certificate for each request for a wheelchair, so in the end, we have no choice but to leave it to the user's conscience. If the number of people abusing it increases, disabled people and elderly passengers who really need help will suffer."