26th October 2025 – (Shenzhen) Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport authorities have implemented revised passenger handling procedures after Taiwanese performer Zheng Zhihua reported substantial difficulties during boarding due to mobility challenges. The established singer, who uses a wheelchair, publicly described experiencing considerable obstacles when attempting to access his aircraft.
The incident occurred on Saturday as Zheng prepared to depart on a Shenzhen Airlines service to Taipei. The aircraft’s remote parking position necessitated using a mobile boarding vehicle, which created an approximate 20-centimetre height differential between the platform and aircraft door. This gap prevented wheelchair access and presented challenges for the performer, who has lower-body mobility limitations resulting from childhood polio.
Following Zheng’s online account of the experience, airport management issued a formal apology and announced immediate operational changes. These revisions include prioritising aerobridge access for passengers with mobility requirements when aircraft positioning permits. For situations requiring remote stand boarding, assistance personnel will increase from one to two staff members, and new boarding equipment with integrated ramps will undergo testing to reduce height discrepancies.
The airport’s initial statement explained that the maintained height differential serves as a standard safety precaution against potential aircraft movement during passenger boarding procedures. However, authorities acknowledged shortcomings in their service delivery and have committed to enhancing assistance protocols for travellers with accessibility requirements.
Zheng, who gained prominence throughout the Chinese-speaking world during the 1990s, has accepted the airport’s apology and considers the matter resolved.
