ACI World is fully committed to building a more accessible and inclusive air transport system. Our members recognize that people with disabilities and those with reduced mobility require a focus on the design of accessible infrastructure and an inclusive passenger journey.
ACI World works closely with accessibility advocacy groups, members and international partners to develop resources and best practices that can help and guide airports in reducing barriers to accessibility, and to enhance the global regulatory framework. The topic of accessibility for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility is driven by the ACI World Facilitation and Services Standing Committee.
How we support the industry
Accessibility Accreditation
Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation program
ACI World’s Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation program provides a continuous path of improvement for airports in the area of accessibility for passenger with disabilities.
Accreditation is designed to help airports measure, evaluate, and improve their accessibility management and culture. Developed by ACI World with input from airport members, industry partners, and accessibility advocacy groups, the program is based on existing international best practices and recommendations, including those put forward in the Airports and Accessible Travel: A Practical Guide.
Accessibility Initiative
Accessibility Use Cases
ACI World has gathered accessibility use cases from its members that can be referred to by other airports looking to implement similar initiatives. They can be used as guidance and examples of best practices in enhancing accessibility and assistance to persons with disabilities in the airport environment.
Accessibility Publication
Airports and Accessible Travel: A Practical Guide
The Airports and Accessible Travel: A Practical Guide is a publication dedicated to improving accessible travel for all passengers. Building on the ACI World Airports and Persons with Disabilities Handbook, the expanded guidance provides up-to-date best practices for integrating accessibility into both new and existing airport facilities. It includes practical recommendations, case studies, and strategies for barrier-free design, accessible procedures, and services for passengers with visible and non-visible disabilities, while also focusing on staff training.
Accessibility Trainings
Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM) Workshop
This workshop provides an overview of applicable international rules and best practices, the basic principles and updates. The course highlights in particular the interrelation between European and United States approaches to PRM at airports. Course participants will analyse the PRM program at their own airport and identify possible short comings, discuss best practices and propose solutions to resolve the problems they encounter.
Certificate in Airport Accessibility
The Certificate in Airport Accessibility is designed to assist airport operators to make their airports more accessible for persons with disabilities, including those with reduced mobility. It covers the key infrastructure and architectural factors to consider when designing new airport facilities or improving existing ones. It also addresses operational and organizational measures designed to improve the travel experience for persons with disabilities. The course covers both the simple ideas that can improve the overall airport experience for persons with disabilities as well as more innovative and advanced aids and supports.
Customer Service for Travellers with Disabilities
The Customer Service for Travellers with Disabilities course covers the critical elements of providing customer service to travellers with disabilities in an airport setting. It is designed to equip all customer facing staff at airports with the skills they need to more confidently and effectively approach and interact with travellers with disabilities or special needs.
Accessibility Publications
Explore ACI World publications to access expert handbooks, in-depth reports and datasets, as well as comprehensive guidance. Empower your airport with global insights across all areas of the airport business, including economics, sustainability, customer experience, and operations.
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Airports and Accessible Travel: A Practical Guide -
Airport Operations and COVID-19 – Business Recovery (Version 3) -
The Future of Travel and Digital Identity at Airports
Additional resources on accessibility
ACI World Insights
Access the latest expert opinions, global tends and data-driven insights on the ACI World Insights blog. Stay informed to make strategic decisions that drive innovation in the airport and wider aviation sector.
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Improving Airport Accessibility: Travel for EveryoneA traveller arrives at the airport terminal, their heart racing and their mind spinning, overwhelmed – not from pre-flight jitters, but from the uncertainty of navigating the airport independently. This scenario plays out thousands of times daily across airports worldwide. It affects not only people with visible disabilities, but also those with invisible disabilities, older adults, parents with young children, and many others. The question is: How are airports responding to this challenge? “Don’t be the reason someone feels insecure. Be the reason someone feels seen, heard, and supported.” Cleo Wade, American artist, poet, activist, and author. The conversation around...Read more -
Enhancing Digital Accessibility in Aviation: A Guide for AirportsWhat is digital accessibility in airports? Until recently ‘Digital Accessibility’ was understood to refer specifically to the accessibility of a company’s website, mobile applications or digital documents. Efforts concentrated on ensuring websites and their content could be accessed by everyone, including people with disabilities. Standards to aid this, known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). However, as technology has evolved, new devices have been introduced in aviation to improve passenger experience and operations. Most airport passengers interact with a plethora of public-facing digital assets such as self-service terminals, automatic gates, and information displays all of which should be accessible....Read more
