Article from BTNews 30 JULY 2018
Southampton assistance praised
A pre-travel advice and tips information booklet produced by Southampton Airport which includes a detailed section on travelling with hidden disabilities has been singled out for praise by the CAA.
Southampton is one of the four UK airports that fulfilled all the key requirements and recommendations of the CAP1411 guidance provided by the authority for supporting less-abled travellers.
A further report, CAP1629, was published last month to assess the progress airports have made over the past year and their plans for the future.
Southampton’s information booklet was developed in partnership with disability organisations to help guide passengers through the process of travelling to and from the airport.
The CAA also advised other UK airports to follow Southampton’s initiative of using their special assistance “helping hands” symbol to assist passengers with identifying a quiet route through security and into the departure lounge.
Introduced in 2017, the “quiet route” is available for passengers with sensory impairments or sensory processing issues, for whom officials say the terminal environment can sometimes be disorienting and stressful.
Airport customer experience manager Hazel Screech said: “We have worked extremely hard to improve our services for passengers travelling with hidden disabilities and pleased to have received recognition from the CAA. (See also Lounge upgrade at Gatwick)
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