Introduction
Airports are quicker gateways to the destination; with 9.4 billion passengers making global air traffic in 2024, airports are enabling seamless travel and accessibility for passengers. However, for travellers with disabilities, reduced mobility, or other challenges, navigating through airports can be a daunting experience. Ensuring airport accessibility isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a moral action to make air travel inclusive for everyone. This blog explores the key aspects of airport accessibility, recent advancements, and the role of modern solutions in fostering inclusivity.
Understanding Accessibility in Airports
Accessibility in airports refers to the design, infrastructure, and processes that enable all travellers—including People of Determination (persons with disabilities), the elderly, and passengers with temporary mobility issues to navigate airports without barriers.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, and addressing the accessibility gap is crucial. By 2037, 8.2 billion passengers are expected to travel by air, and accommodating this population isn’t just about compliance; it’s an opportunity to build a more inclusive future for aviation.
Accessible airports reduce stress for travellers, promote independence, and significantly enhance the overall travel experience. They also help airports meet international accessibility standards like those established by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) and the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Accessible Airport Designs for People of Determination
The foundation of airport accessibility lies in its physical infrastructure. This includes thoughtfully designed spaces to ensure that all travellers can move through the airport effortlessly. The key design elements of accessibility in airports include:
Ramps and Elevators
Non-slip ramps and elevators with braille buttons and voice announcements help travellers with mobility or sensory impairments. These features ensure that individuals can navigate the airport independently, reducing reliance on assistance and fostering a sense of autonomy.
Reserved Seating Areas
Accessible seating areas in terminals, with additional space for wheelchairs, make waiting more comfortable. This thoughtful design allows passengers to rest without feeling cramped, accommodating their needs and enhancing their overall travel experience.
Restrooms for All
Accessible restrooms feature grab bars, spacious stalls, and emergency assistance systems. These facilities are crucial for ensuring that all travellers can maintain dignity and privacy while attending to their personal needs.
Clear Wayfinding Systems
Tactile paths, audible signals, and multilingual signage help passengers navigate terminals with confidence. An effective wayfinding system not only assists those with disabilities but also benefits all travellers by creating a more intuitive environment.
Accessible Parking and Drop-off Zones
Proximity to entrances and designated spaces ensures ease of access from the moment a passenger arrives at the airport. Accessible parking spots should be located as close as possible to terminal entrances, allowing individuals with disabilities to reach the terminal without unnecessary distance or obstacles.
Integrating these features allow airports to nurture independence for all travellers besides demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity.
Digital Accessibility at Airports
An intuitive airport design is not complete with the physical accessibility alone; it is the digital accessibility that fulfils this design. Digital accessibility refers to the design and implementation of digital tools and resources that ensure all individuals, including those with disabilities, can access information and services seamlessly.
Real-time Flight Information:
FIDSnet is a customisable display that provides real-time updates in multiple languages and visual formats, ensuring passengers with sensory impairments can easily access essential flight information. Humberside International Airport upgraded to the latest version of FIDSnet integrating it with Windows Server 2019 to deliver streamlined information on arrivals, departures, and more.
Self-Service Kiosks
Equipped with audio guidance, tactile keypads, and height-adjustable screens, these kiosks allow travellers to independently check-in, print boarding passes, or modify bookings. Many kiosks also feature biometric verification for faster identification, enhancing efficiency, and reducing wait times.
Smartphone Integration
Many airports offer smartphone support with features like voice navigation, step-by-step guidance, and real-time alerts that integrate seamlessly with assistive devices. These apps also provide personalised notifications about flight status and gate changes, helping travellers stay informed throughout their journey. For Instance, City of Derry Airport and Glasgow Prestwick International Airport utilises FIDSnet’s web uplift feature to display live flight status on their web portals.
Digital Ticketing Systems
Digital ticketing often includes QR codes that can be scanned at checkpoints, streamlining the boarding process and minimising the risk of lost tickets. These systems ensure hassle-free boarding and reduce dependency on physical documents.
These are a few solutions that can enhance Digital Accessibility at Airports. AIS’ solutions, including its FIDSnet, provide information at Airport displays that keep passengers informed, bridging accessibility gaps in airports worldwide.
Challenges in Airport Accessibility
Addressing the accessibility needs of diverse travellers include people with disabilities, pregnant womens, senior citizens, people facing temporary mobility issues, etc. Despite advancements, achieving complete accessibility in airports presents several challenges. Overcoming these challenges demands a strategic planning on:
Infrastructure Limitations
Many legacy airports struggle with outdated facilities that don’t meet current accessibility standards. To tackle this, airports like the London Glasgow Airport are investing in renovations to improve their infrastructure and support services. This effort has earned them the UK CAA award with a ‘very good’ disability access rating for the second consecutive year
High Implementation Costs
Upgrading facilities or adding new technologies can be costly, especially for smaller airports. One solution is to explore public-private partnerships (PPPs) that can help share the financial load. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) encourages airports to consider these partnerships to fund necessary improvements.
Limited Staff Training
Frontline staff often require better training to assist travellers with disabilities effectively. Airports like Birmingham Airport are addressing this by implementing training programs focused on disability awareness and customer service. This approach has led to better experiences for passengers.
Lack of Awareness
Many travellers are unaware about the accessibility services available at airports, which can lead to underutilization. To improve this, airports should enhance their outreach efforts. For example, London Stansted Airport has launched a mobile app that provides clear information about accessibility services, making it easier for passengers to plan ahead.
These challenges underscore the need for consistent innovation and collaboration among airport authorities, service providers, and travellers to make airports inclusive and accessible to everyone.
Making Airports Accessible to all
Digital accessibility isn’t merely about accommodating individuals with disabilities; it encompasses creating an inclusive travel experience for everyone, including the elderly, pregnant women, families with young children, and international visitors who don’t know the local language. Enhancing accessibility is the key for any airport to increase the customer experience.
UK airports, in particular, are adopting initiatives like sunflower lanyards where passengers choose to wear a badge or wristband to discreetly indicate passengers with hidden disabilities and quiet zones for those who may feel overwhelmed in noisy environments.
Glasgow Airport features dedicated sensory spaces tailored for individuals with autism, and fully accessible restrooms. Passengers with disabilities report feeling more confident and supported while travelling through Glasgow Airport, improving their travel experience overall.
Heathrow Airport has introduced “passenger journey planners” that cater specifically to travellers with reduced mobility or sensory challenges.
AIS for Airport Accessibility
Airports are striving to make their facilities more accessible and with this, the need for technological advancements is increasing. Airport Information Systems (AIS) plays a pivotal role in improving accessibility in airports with its innovative solutions. Here’s how its products contribute:
Customisable Displays
FIDSnet’s customisable displays are designed with inclusivity in mind, offering multi-language support and a variety of visual formats to cater to passengers with diverse sensory needs. This adaptability ensures that all travellers can easily access vital information, whether they prefer text, images, or audio cues.
Real-Time Synchronisation
AIS systems, including ALDIS, AFIDS, and FIDSnet, ensure that passengers receive timely and accurate information, regardless of their physical or sensory limitations. Airport Information Systems provides integration for ALDIS, AFIDS and FIDSNet to ensure the overall health of the airport.
System Integration
AIS products are engineered to integrate smoothly into existing airport infrastructures, allowing for enhanced accessibility without the need for extensive renovations. AFIDS can be easily integrated into other Airport systems to provide additional layers of information dissemination, such as multilingual support and customisable display options.
AIS remains committed to driving inclusivity in the aviation sector, ensuring that airports meets the diverse needs of every traveller.
Conclusion (TL;DR)
Accessibility in airports is not limited to just the infrastructure. Besides infrastructure, airports need to cultivate an environment where every traveller, regardless of their physical abilities feels welcomed and pleasurable. With universal design principles and advanced digital tools in place, airports can enhance inclusivity. While challenges of cost and infrastructure upgrades remain unaltered, many airports are actively adopting innovative solutions to address accessibility gaps.
Airports in the UK are setting a strong example with their commitment to accessible airport designs and services. Airports can become welcoming spaces for all by integrating advanced technologies, prioritising inclusivity, and embracing collaboration in their operations. AIS is dedicated to engineering this vision with intuitive products that enhance accessibility and streamline processes for every major Airport Operation, making airports accessible for all.
Considering harnessing the power of accessibility in your airport?