Birmingham Airport (BHX) is marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities with extensive investment into enhancing its assisted travel service for those with disabilities. The regional transport hub, which remains on track to experience its busiest year for assisted travel ever, has recently announced a range of developments to improve the service including new state-of-the-art ambulifts and specialised accessibility training for colleagues.
Twelve new THUNDERLIFT 6000 ambulifts from leading aviation equipment manufacturer, AVIOGEI, will be rolled out over the next eight months. Ambulifts are specialised vehicles used to safely transport passengers with reduced mobility to and from the airport. The modern ambulifts can aid passenger access to all of BHX’s aircraft and feature improved technology, resulting in reduced waiting times, greater comfort and smoother journeys. This investment will cost around £3.8m as the airport focusses on improved experiences for all its passengers.
BHX has also recently rolled out new accessibility training for colleagues in a bid to build on current expertise and equip the workforce with essential skills to support neurodivergent customers. Delivered in partnership with specialist charity, Resources for Autism, the detailed training programme outlines key strategies for airport representatives to employ when supporting neurodivergent passengers and their families.
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the airport is also reminding passengers with hidden disabilities to consider using its inclusive Sunflower Lanyard scheme to ensure their journey is as calm and stress-free as possible. Customers travelling through can use a Sunflower Lanyard to discreetly make others aware of their hidden disability. All passengers using a Sunflower Lanyard need to first register at the Assisted Travel desk on-site, before accessing security. Once registered, airport teams will discuss the level of assistance required with customers and provide them with a tag. The lanyard, and the tag, should be visible to airport colleagues so that they can use their enhanced training to make the experience more comfortable for the passenger.
Chris Wilson, Head of Terminal Operations at Birmingham Airport, said: “Here at Birmingham Airport, we truly believe that travel can and should be accessible to everyone. That’s why, we are pleased to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities by highlighting our ongoing investment into enhancing our assisted travel experience for passengers with additional needs and disabilities. From new ambulifts to specialised neurodiversity awareness colleague training, we are committed to improving our service, ensuring we are as inclusive as possible. As we continue to deliver one of our largest capital investment plans to date, we look forward to sharing details of further investment into our assisted travel service.”
