Accessibility day helps passengers with disabilities to familiarise London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport (LLA) and easyJet have hosted an accessibility familiarisation day to give passengers with both hidden and visual disabilities an opportunity to experience all aspects of the airport’s end-to-end passenger journey.
The tour itinerary included an opportunity to experience LLA’s check-in, security search, departure lounge and terminal facilities and to board an easyJet aircraft, hosted by volunteer cabin crew.
The event was hosted by members of LLA’s guest experience, security and operations teams, with further support provided by the airport fire service and key partners including Bedfordshire Police, Menzies Aviation and Wilson James – the airport’s special assistance provider.
Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport, commented: “This event underlines our commitment to ensure that every passenger, regardless of any disability or additional assistance requirements, feels confident that each stage of their journey through London Luton Airport will be simple, friendly, and safe.
“The feedback received from attendees was overwhelmingly positive and our hope is that the opportunity to familiarise with our facilities will provide the reassurance that they can expect a warm welcome and a smooth and stress-free passenger experience each time they choose to travel through our airport.”
London Luton Airport says that the day helped to underline its commitment to providing a simple, friendly and safe service to passengers with reduced mobility or hidden disabilities.
Hugh McConnellogue, Director of Airport Operations at easyJet, commented: “easyJet flies hundreds of thousands of customers each year who require special assistance and so we know how important it is that our customers feel confident that they’ll be supported when they fly.
“We are always striving to make travel easy and accessible for everyone and work closely with all our airports like London Luton Airport, and their special assistance teams, to ensure our customers receive the support they need, so we were delighted to be a part of this day enabling future customers to experience some of the services available to assist them throughout their airport journey, all the way through to boarding their flight.
“We look forward to welcoming many more passengers on board soon.”
Over 40 attendees attended the accessibility familiarisation day, along with friends and family members.
Sally-Anne Lonsdale, a special needs teacher who attended the tour with her children, praised the event: “The whole London Luton Airport team were so helpful and kind, especially the security team who spent so much time showing Eva and Ayla the equipment and talking through each stage. Their patience and kindness mean so much.
“Only a year ago, Ayla couldn’t even leave the home as her sensory needs and anxiety were so extreme she was housebound and living a very restricted life.
“To have the experience she did today means the world to us as her parents and Eva just couldn’t stop smiling the whole way around.
“I can’t express how events like this truly help families like ours.”
An audio guide that assists blind and partially sighted people around Bristol Temple Meads train station was recently launched to ensure the station is as accessible as possible for all passengers.