Europe's largest airport now also has the distinction of being the first Aira access location outside the United States. Blind and visually impaired passengers traveling through Heathrow can now download the free aira app and receive real-time assistance from a trained agent to go through security, find gates, restaurants, rest rooms, and receive real-time updates on changes to their flights.
In addition to being the largest airport in Europe, Heathrow is also the third busiest airport in the world. Jonathan Coen, Director of Customer Relations and Service at Heathrow enthuses, We are transforming the assistance service we provide to our passengers and empowering them to be as independent as possible when they are traveling through Heathrow. We have already invested 23 million in an upgraded contract with our special assistance partner, OmniServ, and introducing new equipment, training, and technology to help improve our service. Aira takes us one step further and will deliver a better travel experience for the 6,000 passengers that would otherwise feel less independent and less prepared when they begin their journey via Heathrow.
Suman Kanuganti, Founder and CEO of Aira, agrees. We are absolutely thrilled to have Aira available for travelers to Heathrow Airport. Heathrow serves more travelers than almost any airport in the world, and we re excited that those travelers will now be able to access Aira on their journeys."
Access to Heathrow begins on Monday December 3, not coincidentally the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held since 1992 by the United nations. 78 million people travel through Heathrow Airport per year, 6000 of whom are estimated to have some form of disability, and Heathrow is attempting to empower them.
In addition to Aira access, Heathrow also launched the SignLive app last year, which connects individuals with trained sign language translators on demand.
About Heathrow
Heathrow is Europe s largest airport and one of the world s top international aviation hubs. As the UK s global gateway, Heathrow welcomes more than 78 million passengers every year. The airport is home to more than 80 airlines and is Britain s most valuable cargo port, helping to drive British trade growth by connecting the nation to more than 200 destinations around the world. Heathrow is currently ranked by passengers as the Best Airport in Western Europe for the third year running and the Best Airport for Shopping for eight years in a row. Terminal 2 also holds the title of the World s Best Airport Terminal and is one of the first in the world to be powered by 100% renewable gas and electricity.
About Aira
AI stands for Artificial Intelligence; RA stands for Remote Access. When you put them together you get Aira. Aira is a service that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality to connect people to highly trained, remotely-located agents. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to information, enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence.
Visit aira.io or call 800-835-1934 to learn more.
About Heathrow Special Assistance
Passengers that have disabilities or mobility difficulties requiring special assistance should contact their airlines or Heathrow Special Assistance at special_assistance@heathrow.com
Source: Heathrow Becomes the First Airport Outside the U.S. to Join the Aira Access NetworkCategory: News
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Tangela Mahaffey is a barely reformed English Major currently residing in Colorado. She reads entirely too many fantasy books and takes almost nothing seriously, including herself. She loves technology, music, writing, puns, and cats. She can be reached on twitter @tmmahaff
