Gatwick offers visually impaired free 24/7 help via mobile phone camera
Blind and visually impaired passengers at Gatwick can now call a professionally trained agent 24 hours a day who will – by using the camera on the passenger’s mobile phone – guide them through the airport, help them read documents or flight information, shop or even find their bag on the luggage carousel.
The free, on demand service can be accessed through the aira app on a smart phone 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 extremely ground-breaking 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 just 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 to 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.
Twelve thousand passengers a year – or 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 airport. Registered users may also use a specialist glasses (Horizon) which send the view to the agent.
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 RNIB to help ensure that the airport has appropriate processes and services in place to help blind and visually impaired passengers at the airport. This new AIRA system is a great enhancement and will improve accessibility for blind or partially sighted passengers further still.
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 are proactively looking at potential solutions to aid and assist passengers and look forward to hearing people’s feedback about AIRA.”
To use the app:
- STEP 1: Download the Aira App on your smartphone via this link or by clicking or searching for 'Aira' in the App or Play store.
- STEP 2: Open the app and choose, 'Tap to use Aira as a Guest for FREE!' and register with an email and phone number.
- STEP 3: You will get a text message confirming your phone number. Tap the link in the text message to complete the signup process. Then connect with an agent.
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.
Gatwick also recently won ‘Excellence in Transport Accessibility’ at London’s Transport Award.
Gatwick also hosts regular Accessibility Days to help new passengers get used to airport surroundings before the travel. Gatwick’s Special Assistance web pages can be viewed here
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