The World Disability Union (WDU) and the Universal Standards for persons with disabilities (USTAD) have accredited TAV Airports with making all services at Ankara Esenboğa and Izmir Adnan Menderes airports user-friendly for disabled passengers.
The two airports were audited by GlobalGROUP, an independent provider of inspection and assessment services, which certified them with the USTAD 2011:2015 Environment and Construction Standard for ‘obstacle-free airport’ projects. Last year, TAV became the first organization in Turkey to receive USTAD’s 2011:2015 certification for works carried out at Atatürk Airport.
Nuray Demirer, general manager, Esenboğa Airport, said, “We carried out extensive works to remove obstacles at Esenboğa Airport to enable all our passengers to get equal services. We are glad that the steps we have taken so far are in compliance with international standards.”
Necdet Öztürk, vice president, WDU, said, “The first and the most important obstacles for the rights of disabled people are the faults and non-standard implementations in buildings and the social environment. There are physical obstacles in all areas of daily life from educational institutions to health, employment, culture and sports facilities. The reason for these obstacles is the lack of standard requirements in the implementation of these services.”
To ensure WDU standards were met, TAV fitted the terminal buildings and car lots with tactile surfaces; audio alert systems in all lifts; renovated terminal restrooms; and pay phones where the height is suitable for passengers in wheelchairs. The operator also trained employees in basic sign language.