80 per cent of travellers requiring special assistance are satisfied with airports’ accessibility improvements for people with disabilities, a recent survey by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) has revealed.
According to the 2023 Global Passenger Survey by IATA, satisfaction levels among respondents concerning the accessibility of air travel for passengers with disabilities are notably high, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
However, the survey findings indicate a notable increase in the number of travellers seeking assistance.
Clear information is crucial for anybody who wishes to travel. While airlines have made strides in providing extensive guidance on their websites for this group of people, there remains room for improvement, particularly in easing the search for specific information.
As key travel markets have more elderly travellers, this trend will likely continue, potentially causing challenges for the aviation industry in supporting this group of passengers.
Furthermore, IATA revealed that currently, passengers with disabilities have their needs met with wheelchair provision. But despite this, as their numbers increase, more than this provision will be needed in the future.
The traveller may also need help with wayfinding through crowded airports or only have difficulty negotiating stairs, or may be totally mobile but visually impaired.
Among the surveyors, 20 per cent emphasised the need to prioritise enhanced website accessibility for booking and reservations.
Acknowledging this, IATA has recently released guidelines to ensure that airline websites offer easy access to essential information for travellers with disabilities.
To ensure equal access for all passengers, IATA’s guidance focuses on making airline websites more user-friendly for accessibility of information, defining assistance criteria and encouraging passengers to request help early, preferably when booking.
The guidance emphasises a simplified approach that allows travellers with disabilities to access essential information with a single click from the website’s homepage.
In addition, it recommends establishing straightforward and user-friendly information pathways on airline websites for passengers with disabilities or limited mobility.
In February of this year, IATA also published a similar guidance material for passengers with disabilities, which included the transportation of mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs for those in need.
This guidance contains several key components to improve the travel experience for passengers with disabilities. It includes the implementation of more efficient booking processes and enhanced information exchange through the utilisation of Special Service Request and Passenger Name Requirement codes, facilitating advance information on mobility aid specifications.
Moreover, IATA advised airlines to develop a communication toolkit for better engagement with disabled passengers and establish best practices for handling, loading, collecting and returning mobility aids.