Gatwick trials new assistance system for passengers with additional needs

The free, on-demand service can be accessed through the aira app on a smartphone and will help to give blind and visually-impaired passengers more independence to move through and enjoy the facilities at the airport. 

The system is being trialled for six months at Gatwick in partnership with the airport’s biggest airline easyJet, which is helping to fund the trial to improve accessibility for blind or partially-sighted passengers.

Chair of easyJet’s Special Assistance Advisory Group, Lord David Blunkett, said: “This is a great experiment and innovation which I know over time will be life changing in terms of providing equality to passengers with no or little sight. This technological breakthrough will allow the partnership between easyJet and Gatwick to demonstrate, for future use across airports here and across the world, just how a simple app and addition to an iPhone or other similar technology can make such a difference. I know from my own experience that it will take a bit of technical expertise but also just how liberating this could be, both for those who need a little extra help as well as for those passengers who want to complement the wider assistance available with an independent solution that they can use themselves.”

Once downloaded onto a mobile phone, the Aira system is purposely straightforward and simple to use and the trained agents can help passengers find specific airport locations such as boarding gates, shops and restaurants – or the airport’s special assistance facilities.

The system can also be used to get the latest information on a passenger’s individual journey plans such as flight information and onward connections or to read menus in restaurants, prices and offers in shops or even help finding baggage on reclaim belts. 

Records show that 12,000 passengers a year – 500 a month – notify the airport that they are blind or partially sighted. These passengers can now download and register with the app in advance – although during the trial Gatwick passengers can also sign in as a “guest” without registering when entering the airport. 

Chris Woodroofe, Chief Operating Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “Airports are complex environments and this new system helps to give blind and visually-impaired passengers more independence so they can more easily relax and enjoy their time at Gatwick. We have an ambition to be the UK’s most accessible airport and we are looking to do this by investing and innovating and by putting the needs of every passenger at the heart of our operation. Ultimately we want to make sure that everybody has an equal opportunity to fly.”

Gatwick has an ongoing working partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to help ensure that the airport has appropriate processes and services in place. This new AIRA system is a great enhancement and will improve accessibility for blind or partially-sighted passengers further.

Gatwick also engages with a broad range of other disability groups to help ensure that the airport makes its services accessible for everyone. New facilities at the airport include the UK’s first airport sensory room and a new £2 million airline lounge for passengers who require special assistance – one of the biggest of its kind in any European airport.

Marc Powell, Strategic Relationships Executive at RNIB, said: “We know that an airport is a challenging environment for lots of people, let alone blind and partially-sighted people. We are pleased Gatwick is proactively looking at potential solutions to aid and assist passengers and look forward to hearing people’s feedback about AIRA.”