Mobility scooters now available at East Midlands Airport
Four new mobility scooters at East Midlands Airport (EMA) will make it easier for disabled and older passengers to move around the airport.
The scooters have been provided by National Mobility Hire which is the UK’s largest supplier of fleet mobility services.
Passengers can collect the scooters at the assisted travel desk in the check-in hall to use for getting from check-in, through security to the departure gates.
The scooters will give passengers who find it difficult to walk to the gate the freedom to manage their own journey through the airport allowing them more independence. The agile scooters can easily fit into lifts and tight spaces making it easy to navigate around a busy terminal. If popular with passengers, the airport will consider adding to the fleet next year.
Chris Drury, East Midlands Airport’s Head of Customer Services, said: “We know that many people choose East Midlands Airport because its compact size lends itself to an easier experience. We have invested heavily in our assisted travel services recently and are officially recognised as one of the UK’s top performing airports for accessibility. This latest investment in the scooters gives passengers even more choice and, more importantly, greater independence. We want everyone who uses the airport to enjoy travelling whether going on holiday, for business or to meet with friends and family.”
Fraser Brown, National Mobility Hire’s Director of Sales for UK & Ireland, said: “We have seen a dramatic shift over the last few years with venues and public spaces becoming more accessible to all customers. We are pleased to have played a part in helping them achieve this. We’re delighted to work with East Midlands Airport to supply the scooters which will considerably enhance the experience for passengers.”
East Midlands Airport’s assisted travel team has had national and international recognition for the quality of the service it provides. This is, in part, thanks to a close working relationship with its accessibility forum - a diverse group of disabled people who advise the airport on matters including customer experience, training, monitoring and recruitment. All members are disabled, including the Chair. The group is an essential critical friend to the airport’s management team.
During the last 18 months, EMA has invested more than £500,000 upgrading vehicles and other equipment for disabled passengers while also introducing an assisted travel live chat service - a UK first for an airport. Customers scan a QR code and are connected via WhatsApp to the control room. This provides vital communication for deaf customers and others who need assistance wherever they are in the airport.
The investment and commitment to providing the best possible customer experience for disabled passengers comes ahead of what is expected to be the airport’s busiest summer season since before the pandemic. During the peak summer weeks, passenger numbers are expected to reach 95 per cent of pre-Covid levels which shows that demand for international travel continues to grow.