Edinburgh Airport has joined with an app to help disabled people personalise the assistance they need at the airport.
The free Welcome app from the Edinburgh-based company, Neatebox, informs the airport’s Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM) reception to notify staff that the passenger is on their way to the airport.
The app allows passengers to let the airport know the areas where they need assistance.
This means that the airport staff can prepare for the passenger and make any arrangements required.
Although the app enables passengers to request assistance from the airport’s PRM teams, passengers must continue to book assistance in advance through their airline or travel agent.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport:
“Airports take people from all walks to life to destinations all over the world, and it is our responsibility to ensure we have facilities that cater for everyone regardless of their needs.
“We’ve looked at how we can improve the wide range of services we already offer and introducing technology such as Neatebox allows us to extend that passenger care and tailor our service to those requirements.
“It’s also good to work with local businesses and implement innovative approaches to passenger needs – we pride ourselves on being innovative and we are confident our accessibility will continue to improve with the introduction of Neatebox. “
Gavin Neate, founder of Neatebox:
“With over 80,000 people who could use this service travelling through Edinburgh Airport every year, many of them with “hidden” disabilities, we could not be in a better position to demonstrate this amazing service to the greatest number of people. We hope by doing so, we can promote Scotland as being the epicentre of this innovation.”
Ken Reid, one of the users of Welcome at Edinburgh Airport:
“As a blind person, I have many tools to help me make journeys, but often the hardest part is the last 50m.Where is the entrance to the place I’m heading for? The Welcome App notifies the airport assistance team that I’m on my way, and they can be ready to guide me in. I used to stand at the entrance and hope that someone kind would notice me and offer help, I no longer need to do that.”
Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest and UK’s 6th busiest airport. It recently became the first in Scotland to be recognised as Autism Friendly: https://www.edinburghairport.com/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/autism-friendly-award
N.B. Image credit: wikipedia.org