Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport adds service for customers who are blind or have low vision

PHOENIX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday announced it has added a service to assist customers who are blind or have low vision.

Aira provides guidance through a mobile app to assist passengers with moving through crowds, avoiding obstacles, finding gates, using self-service kiosks and navigating through security checkpoints.

The app connects users with professional visual interpreters who use a video live stream to translate visual information into descriptive audio.

“Aira is great addition,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a press release. “It offers a whole new level of assistance for passengers who are blind or have low vision and builds on Sky Harbor’s ongoing efforts to be a welcoming place for all our residents and visitors.”

Users can download the app in the Apple App and Google Play stores.

The app requires a monthly subscription for personal use but will be free for airport users.

“The addition of Aira service started with a constituent request to my office asking to see how we could improve accessibility at Phoenix Sky Harbor,” Councilwoman Debra Stark, chair of the city’s Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee, said in the release.

“I’m proud that the Aviation team took this to heart, and made it happen. It’s really a success story for their commitment to customer service.”

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