An apparent lack of wheelchair services available at Bermuda International Airport recently provoked an elderly resident to voice her dissatisfaction.

And the 64-year-old woman also told The Royal Gazette how the "upsetting'' treatment she received from airport staff motivated her to go public with her story.

The woman -- who wished to remain anonymous -- said her experience began on the rainy Wednesday afternoon of September 10 when she attempted to embark on an American Airlines flight to Las Vegas.

Being an asthmatic, the woman requested a wheelchair to aid her in getting to the plane.

Although she couldn't remember who she spoke to, she said the wheelchair never arrived.

"I had to walk to the plane,'' she said. "I was trying to race up the stairs of the airplane, but I still got wet because I can't walk very fast because I have asthma.'' However, her ordeal did not end there.

Upon returning to the Island the following Monday, September 15, the woman's plea for a wheelchair again fell on deaf ears.

She said as she attempted to disembark the plane, she noticed a group of four men who were gathered at the foot of the stairs.

"When I beckoned (to the men) for a wheelchair, nobody moved. They just ignored me,'' she recalled.

The woman added that when she finally managed to get inside the Airport terminal, she saw three women wearing dark uniforms that she assumed were employees.

"I kindly asked those women for a wheelchair,'' she said. "One of them said `there is one over there. Take it'.'' The woman said she then had to struggle to retrieve a wheelchair without any assistance.

"I had my bags and a walking stick,'' she added. "But I still had to get it myself.'' As a result, the woman told The Royal Gazette that the availability of wheelchairs should be ensured throughout the entire airport.

"I am not just doing this for me, but for other people out there who also need wheelchairs,'' she said.

"Senior citizens and disabled people do not need to be climbing up steep flights of stairs, period,'' the woman added. "They (airport officials) should build something like they have (at other airports).'' She was referring to the covered walkways -- commonly known as jet bridges -- which lead directly inside a plane, subsequently preventing passengers from encountering problems such as steep stairwells and poor weather conditions.

When contacted by The Royal Gazette , Mike Osborne, manager of Airport terminals, expressed his regret about the woman's "most unfortunate'' experience.

"It makes me sad to hear what happened to this woman,'' Mr. Osborne said.

"But one thing with elderly and disabled persons is that they can specify through their travel agents their need for a wheelchair. Unfortunately, I don't know what went wrong with this poor lady.'' HANDICAP HAN