Don Francisco, while recording in Miami (Florida), on March 6th. Alexander Tamargo (Getty Images)
Popular Chilean TV presenter Mario Kreutzberger, known in Latin America as Don Francisco, has sued his country’s international airport, Nuevo Pudahuel, for its “disastrous” service to people with disabilities and reduced mobility. The main face of Sábado gigante, which was broadcast by Univisión in much of Latin America until 2015, assured in the letter to the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio: “It must be the only airport in the world where people with reduced mobility or disabilities have to go go in search of their wheelchair instead of having the wheelchair go where the person who needs it is”. The founder of Teletón – a charity that helps children and young people with mobility problems that started in Chile in 1978 and has expanded to other countries in the region like Mexico and Colombia over the years – added that the fact was “unusual”. .
Kreutzberger, 82, said in his letter that he witnessed the exploits of one person who needed a wheelchair at this Chilean international airport, which receives about 38 million passengers annually. According to Mr. Francisco, the passenger in need informs the airline counter that he has previously reserved a wheelchair to get to the boarding area (there are about 3,500 steps between the inn and the boarding area, according to the moderator, as he himself did on his last trip from Santiago de Chile to Miami, which corresponds to about two kilometers). But although the chair is available, it has to be picked up in another area of the airport, where it will only be delivered to the passenger who needs it and not to an attendant.
“In this case, I intervened and asked, ‘But how can that be when the person who needs the service can’t walk that distance.’ Another unlikely answer: “Then you have to bring your wheelchair from home to get to the place where you have to pick it up,” said Kreutzberger, a very popular figure both in Chile and in the region.
Seeing the traveler’s frustrated face, the TV presenter decided to accompany the affected person to remove the wheelchair, which barely moved with the help of his partner while they tried to move their suitcases. It was when Don Francisco said to the passengers and officials involved, “I’m sorry, but I have eight hours on the flight from Santiago to Miami to write and I will publicly denounce this.” Everyone replied: “Don Francisco, please do it,” said the Chilean.
“I wonder: is there anyone in the administration of this Nuevo Pudahuel who listens, understands and resolves such an absurd situation as this? Or we have to say like the unforgettable Chapulín Colorado: “And who can defend us now?” Kreutzberger added.
The Santiago de Chile airport concession company responded to the moderator’s criticism, which pointed to the long distances – difficult for elderly people to travel – and the lack of hygiene in the services. “There’s nothing we can do but empathize with him. The situation he describes seems quite unacceptable to us, as it does not correspond to the quality of service that we want to offer at the airport,” assured Nuevo Pudahuel Deputy Director of Communications Manuel Valencia.
The spokesperson added that the venue has a mobility company with more than 150 wheelchairs and eight electric cars, which would soon be joined by another 20: “We have a system in place but communication has failed here,” added Valencia at the airport they have contacted Don Francisco so that when he returns to Chile they can work with Teletón to detect, diagnose and improve any deficiencies”. According to the spokesman for the concessionaire, around 20,000 mobility services are needed every month.