British Airways claims US first with autonomous wheelchairs

British Airways says it has become the first airline in North America to trial fully autonomous wheelchairs aimed at helping disabled customers navigate an airport terminal. The UK carrier has introduced the “electric mobility devices”  at New York’s JFK airport and says the trial is aimed at helping customers navigate the terminal freely and independently. It is part of a push by BA to make itself the airline of choice for customers requiring additional assistance. READ: Air New Zealand unveils revolutionary economy sleep pods. The airline estimates 500,000 customers in this category fly with it each year and that this figure will rise by 10 percent by 2021. The self-driving, self-navigating, electric vehicles from Japanese technology firm, WHILL, are equipped with anti-collision technology and allow customers to set their preferred destination anywhere within the airport.

British Airways says the vehicle safely navigates the terminal without the need for assistance from travel companions or the airport support team, currently responsible for escorting customers from check-in directly to the boarding gate. The high-tech wheelchairs have been tested in other parts of the world but the carrier says this is the first trial by an airline in a North American airport. The mobility technology offers another option for passengers who are unable to walk long distances but may not need to travel with a wheelchair, giving the freedom to explore the airport at their leisure. It is part of a range of initiatives, including a specialist accessibility support team, that has seen customer satisfaction more than double among British Airways travelers with accessibility needs. “Our customers tell us they would like greater independence and control over their journey through the airport, so we were keen to trial autonomous devices and see our customers response to the very latest mobility technology in a real airport environment,’’ said British Airways’ head of innovation Ricardo Vidal. “Over the next few months, we will be collaborating on a further trial at our busy home hub at Heathrow Terminal 5 to gather more feedback and explore the introduction of this technology alongside our team of customer service professionals to provide a truly seamless and accessible airport experience. “I’m excited about the future of inclusive innovation to support the accelerating demand for accessible air travel.”