How Airports Can Lead in Travel Accessibility

DALLAS — Airplanes are one of humankind's most impressive inventions, but they could be more mindfully constructed.

Getting in and out of a plane is a delicate process, involving narrow passageways and prohibiting some mobility. Modern airlines are responsible for engaging in more inclusive airport designs.

What does that look like, and what have airlines done to improve customer service to more passengers?

Universal Plane Design and Consistency

Many airplane designs are proprietary, or they fall into conventional blueprints including exclusive features. Everything from the texture of the pathway into the plane to the language of the safety documents are considerations.

Some mobility tools may be unable to cross certain types of flooring, like high-resistance carpets, and people from other nations may feel unsafe if critical information is out of reach.

Airlines should embrace a universal design to cater to as many audiences as possible, prioritizing comfort and empathy. Digitizing information systems could make them inherently multilingual and adjustable depending on sensory requirements. People could resize fonts or play a video instead of reading visual aids.

Airport accessibility would make all paths, doors and seats adjustable and safe to accommodate individuals with different bodies and capabilities.

On-Board Considerations

These overlap with technologies and design choices to accommodate more than the majority of flyers. Most airplane designs are limited in their perspective, perpetuating ableism, ageism and cultural negligence.

Here are some ways to overcome common oversights:

• Make bathrooms gender-neutral and include changing stations.
• Install Braille signage.
• Create wheelchair-compatible seats. 
• Ensure accessibility inclusions are not locked behind ticket classes.
• Provide earplugs, headphones or sleep masks for sleep and quiet.
• Allow easy temperature and lighting adjustments for sensory sensitivities.

Creative Partnerships

Passengers with invisible disabilities may have difficulty communicating needs to airline staff. Around one in six people have a disability, and airline workers may not be aware of every kind. These companies should test solutions for supportive, nonjudgmental communications so awareness spreads without prejudice. 

Organizations like Hidden Disabilities Sunflower are one of several providing solutions to companies. For individuals with chronic pain, mental health ailments, sleep problems, and many others, this business gives people a sunflower badge to wear to notify plane staff to accommodate diverse needs strategically.

Non-airplane transportation around the airport extends to outside its walls. Taxis, buses and more must be as aware of accessibility needs as the rest of the airport. They should be equipped with ramp extensions, lifts and railings. They should also include multiple ways to communicate stops with passengers, such as automatically updating screens, auditory announcements and easy-to-read maps.

Third-party providers may be able to assist airport accessibility in expanding fleets of more advanced public transit.

Airport Accessibility Improvements

Airports are massive structures with immense sensory overload and hundreds of thousands of square feet to traverse. The layouts, medley of sights and sounds, and distances could prevent people from navigating easily. 

For example, people with disabilities or elderly individuals may not be able to get to their gate for boarding on time safely. Airports are beginning to incorporate micro-travel options within the building, such as autonomous wheelchairs to help transport visitors needing assistance.

The self-driving models prevent collisions with other guests and expedite traffic flow within the airport. It could reduce the number of flights people miss because of inconsiderate mobility elements.

Food accessibility should be another priority. Many people have dietary restrictions and sensitivities, whether by choice or because of health reasons. There should be a restaurant to serve the world’s palate, such as a Halal and Kosher-certified eatery, gluten-free options and meat-free choices.

Pre-Board Security Enhancements

While accessibility on the plane is critical, boarders experience numerous barriers before heading to their destination that could be alienating.

Security Hurdles

Airport security is one of the most infamous processes in travel. One of the most intense is the metal detectors and multiple scanners passengers must go through. Many of these are dangerous for individuals, particularly those with internal medical devices that magnets within machinery could disable. It is a potentially life-threatening concern if a mistake occurs.

While getting people through as fast as possible is a quality of life concern for staff, it should also consider other people’s needs for cognitive processing or physical movement. Removing shoes may pose a safety risk to someone, and others may not know what to do when they get to the scanners because instructions were only on overhead speakers. 

People who are hard of hearing would not be as aware as they approach. Providing alternative solutions to complex security screening would make it a more pleasant experience for diverse flyers. 

Sensitivity Training

Additionally, security agents should receive cultural sensitivity training to reduce instances of racial and ethnic profiling. Airports should also hire advisory staff to assist those who are expanding their perspectives and education.

This is a social and accessibility issue, which is only pervasive because of a need for more extensive information among airport staff.

Diverse Signage

It is vital to incorporate multiple languages throughout airports because so many populations are coming in and out of every gate. However, inclusivity is more than words.

The imagery in airport signage and advertisements should reflect the diverse populations traveling through the doors. Including people of color, people with disabilities and gender diversity in photographs will make the airport feel more accepting of all travelers.

Animal Assistance

Those with service animals should have no issues wayfinding or getting onto the plane. While many restrooms exist for people, there are few options for animals to relieve themselves so they can best assist their human companions. Animals must feel as welcome as people in airports so they can execute their jobs.

Priority Boarding for All

Everyone from all backgrounds and experiences must receive equal consideration for airplane comfort. Historically, airports and airplanes have failed to accommodate everyone equally, but there is no better time than the present to change the industry’s standards.

With flights becoming more popular than ever, stakeholders in airlines must invest in the transition to more inclusive airport design experiences for travelers worldwide.