Swedavia introduces new digital services for passengers with reduced mobility

Swedavia uses new digital solutions for the effective coordination of services provided to our passengers who need special assistance. CREDIT: Orlando G Boström

Swedavia is enhancing its coordination efforts to coordinate the passenger assistance it provides to persons with reduced mobility (PRM) through its PRM service. Using digital solutions, assistance services at Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport can be better coordinated and provided faster.

Just in time for the intense summer travel period, Swedavia is enhancing efforts to coordinate PRM service so the right person is available in the right place when a passenger needs assistance. A mobile app for effective coordination of services was recently launched at Göteborg Landvetter. The app is already available at Stockholm Arlanda, but a function is now being launched that tracks the position of wheelchairs at the airport in real time, thus enabling Swedavia’s staff to quickly locate an available wheelchair when a passenger needs one. Along with the new digital tool, the work process has also been improved.

“We work continuously to develop our processes in order to give passengers the best possible experience at our airports, and digitisation and innovation play an important role here. A well-functioning PRM service is of the greatest importance to Swedavia since our airports must be accessible and offer a good experience to everyone,” says Karin Gylin, head of strategic development and innovation at Swedavia.

At Arlanda alone, nearly 100 people work with Swedavia’s PRM service. During peak season, that figure is doubled in order to handle the increased need for this passenger service and cover for staff on holiday leave.

“During a typical summer week, we can have 3,000 passengers who need PRM service, which needs to be coordinated and provided at the right time. The new app, which features positioning, will make things much easier both for our staff who use it and for our passengers receiving assistance from Swedavia’s PRM service. With this solution, it will be possible to reduce waiting times for people who get help from our PRM service and at the same time improve the workplace environment for employees,” says Fredrik Holgersson, business process owner of the PRM service at Arlanda.

In addition to the PRM service that Swedavia provides to people with disabilities, Swedavia’s assistance team escorts hundreds of unaccompanied minors each week during peak season.

“One new development this summer is that we now also have a centrally located counter in Terminal 5 at Arlanda where we coordinate the work. This ensures that we have a good product for our passengers and airline customers,” concludes Fredrik Holgersson.

Swedavia’s PRM service

Swedavia’s assistance to people with reduced mobility or another disability is free and is booked in advance through the passenger’s airline. One tip is to book well in advance.

An escort for an unaccompanied minor is booked in advance through the airline, which usually charges a fee for the service.

In addition to wheelchairs and escorts, Swedavia’s PRM service has a number of vehicles to provide assistance as well as two highloaders.