San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) in California has launched a service to support visually impaired travelers. The service, Aira, provides guidance via a mobile app to assist passengers with a variety of needs, including moving through crowds, avoiding obstacles, finding gates, using self-service kiosks and navigating through the TSA checkpoint.
“Aira is a great service, offering a whole new level of assistance for passengers who are visually impaired and building on the goal of being a welcoming and inclusive airport for all residents and visitors alike,” said Courtney Johnson, director of airports. “I’m proud that SBP is taking steps forward to support accessibility and transportation for all.”
The Aira mobile app connects users with professionally trained visual interpreters, who use live-streamed video to translate visual information into descriptive audio at the touch of a button, providing efficiency, engagement and, most importantly, independence to end users.
Troy Otillio, CEO of Aira, stated, “This partnership unlocks independence on their own terms for blind and low-vision travelers. I want to applaud San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport for its outstanding commitment to accessibility and inclusion.”
The Aira app is free to download and available in the Apple App and Google Play stores. Although accessing the service for personal use can require a monthly subscription, SBP will offer the service for free to users while at the airport.
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