Accessible Travel

For people with physical disabilities travelling is often a challenge. On this page you will find information about the facilities and services at Dortmund Airport for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility.

If you need assistance when travelling from Dortmund Airport, please inform us about your disability and the type of support you will need when you book your flight. It is important that you notify us about your requirements well in advance, so that we can make sure that the necessary staff are available. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee that you will receive the help you need. You should also check with your doctor that there are no medical reasons why you shouldn't fly.

The following four international categories will help you to determine your level of disability:

Dortmund Airport is on the eastern edge of the Ruhr area and can be reached quickly and easily from any direction by motorways and main roads. The airport is very close to the A40 (B1) and A44. If you travel by taxi or private car, you can be dropped off or picked up immediately outside the terminal (on both the departures and the arrivals levels), which means that the car is only a few metres from the terminal.

You can find more information on the Getting to the Airport by Car page.

The direct bus routes from Dortmund Central Station (AirportExpress) and Holzwickede (AirportShuttle) enable you to travel to the airport by public transport quickly and easily. Only low-floor buses are used on the shuttle services which are easily accessible to wheelchair users. The buses stop directly outside the terminal. You can find more detailed information about travelling to and from the airport using public transport on the current flight schedule and our website.

You can find more information about travelling to and from the airport using public transport on the Getting to the Airport by Bus and Train page.

Passengers with physical disabilities can book the assisted transport service for people with disabilities provided by the city of Dortmund/DEW21 via the assistance service (PRM service) at Dortmund Airport. The assisted transport service will transport you and your luggage to the airport for your flight and then back home again when you return. There is a charge for this service. The airport assistance service (PRM service) can give you additional information and details of prices.

All the airport's car parks have designated disabled spaces. The P1 car park is next to the terminal building and is ideal for people with disabilities because of its proximity to the terminal and its accessibility, 

Please note that the assistance service (PRM service) can only collect people from car park P1 (level -1).

Passengers with disabilities can park free of charge in the designated spaces in car parks P1 and P2. You must display a disabled badge with the code "aG" (severely disabled), "Bl" (blind), "H" (helpless) or "B" (constant assistance required).

Important: The free car park exit ticket will be issued at the information desk on the day of your return flight. You will need to show your flight ticket. Please be aware that we cannot reimburse you at a later date.

All the different areas of the terminal are easily accessible. The shops and restaurants have only one floor. There are lifts to take you to every level. Disabled toilet facilities are available in the public area and the security area and are clearly signed. If you have problems finding your way about, please contact the airport information desk on the departures level/level 1 or the assistance service (PRM service) on the arrivals level/level 0.

If you are travelling with your own wheelchair or with a walking frame, you may have to check these items in as luggage at the check-in desk. In this case, the airport will provide you with a wheelchair free of charge which you can use until you board the aircraft. The airlines generally transport wheelchairs and walking frames free of charge. Specific transport regulations apply to battery-powered wheelchairs. Your airline will give you the necessary information.

You can find an overview of the contact details of all the airlines at Dortmund Airport on the Airlines page. Please register your e-wheelchair at our airport information desk before departure and complete the electric wheelchair safety checklist (PDF) in advance.

On behalf of the airlines, Dortmund Airport provides an assistance service (PRM service) for passengers with reduced mobility. Our employees have received appropriate training to enable them to deal effectively with your specific requirements.

Service hours: from 5.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. (longer in the case of delayed flights)

The free assistance service (PRM service) is for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility. This includes the following people:

• Passengers who are full-time wheelchair users
• Passengers who cannot climb stairs, but can walk a few steps to their seat
• Passengers who need a wheelchair for longer distances, but who can climb a few stairs and walk a few steps to their seat
• Visually impaired and blind passengers
• Deaf passengers
• Passengers with a learning disability

Pick-up points have been set up for passengers flying out of the airport. When you arrive at the airport, you can contact the assistance service (PRM service) from the central pick-up points, where you will be collected and assisted until you board your flight.

The pick-up points are as follows:

• All the check-in desks (departures level/level 1)
• The information desk (departures level/level 1)
• The telephone point in car park P1 (level -1)
• The telephone point outside the west entrance (departures level/level 1)

Important: Please arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart to allow plenty of time for the check-in process.

Passengers arriving at the airport are collected from the aircraft by the assistance service (PRM service), given help in passport control and baggage reclaim and then taken to the central meeting place on the arrivals level. If necessary, an airport wheelchair will be provided at the aircraft. The service staff will also help you to transfer to your own wheelchair later, if you require assistance. The central meeting place for people collecting passengers is the drop-off point in the arrivals area/level 0 (at the exit from baggage reclaim). This is clearly signed.