AAAE and Aira Announce Free Service for Blind and Low Vision Travelers
at Top Global Airports
https://medium.com/aira-io/aaae-and-aira-announce-free-service-for-blind-and-low-vision-travelers-at-top-global-airports-cee14f264162
To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), the American
Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Aira have teamed up to
provide airport
passengers with free access to the Aira service at any airport in the
US for a full week, starting from May 17, 2018. What’s more, Aira has
also made its
service available to all major airports in Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, Ireland, and the UK for the same period. Aira is a tech
startup, based in San
Diego, which offers an assistive technology platform for the estimated
265 million people who are blind or low vision (BLV) around the globe.
“Our airport members are always looking for new and innovative ways to
serve their passengers,” said AAAE Executive Vice President of
Services, Carter
Morris. “Aira is a perfect example of how airports are using creative
tools to enhance the passenger experience.”
Aira pitched its solution at the Inaugural Airport Shark Tank in San
Jose in 2016, and has since expanded the Aira Airport Network to
include Memphis International
Airport (MEM), Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP),
Houston Airport System including George Bush Intercontinental Airport
(IAH) and Houston
Hobby Airport (HOU), and Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Each of these airports have purchased a block of Aira Airport Network
minutes that
allow blind and low vision passengers to access the Aira network for
free at the airport, from the curb to the gate.
“We chose GAAD to make this announcement because bringing
accessibility to everyone forms the very core of Aira’s mission,” said
Suman Kanuganti, CEO of
Aira. “We’re proud to be partnering with AAAE to make our service
available to all blind and low vision passengers across the airport
community.”
Airports that participate in the Aira Airport Network can track minute
usage and prepay on behalf of the Aira user, so blind and low vision
passengers
can access a virtual concierge while navigating the airport.
