As a way to honour the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and to execute its commitment to the differently-abled community, AirAsia India has launched its in-flight safety manual in braille. The airline collaborated with Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Deafblind to design the manual. Besides, the airline has added a new provision on its website and mobile app to enable the differently-able to pre-book for wheelchair assistance.
There are different types of wheelchair facilities available suitable to access the ramp-up to the ladder point or the aircraft door and reach the cabin. The wheelchairs that take the guest inside the cabin are narrower, easing the aisle access. The airline chose to not charge for the provisions.
The airline has also demarcated special assistance counters with priority services at all 17 airports it operates from for people with disabilities. They can enjoy priority check-in, assistance to board and deboard at the counters.
Captain Manish Uppal, Head of Operations, AirAsia India, said, “With this, we hope to extend ease of access, comfort, and safety to visually impaired guests and aid them in experiencing pleasant journeys onboard without impediments. Our core values of being ‘Guest Obsessed’ and ‘Sustainability Spirit’ guide us in enabling a more inclusive experience to pave the way for the future.”
Yogesh Desai, the CEO, HKIDB, added, “The institute’s focus stems from the strong belief to give every person every right that you claim for yourself” and was hopeful that other airline companies would share the same sentiment and assured full cooperation from HKIDB in this initiative”.
AirAsia India – Air India Express merger talks
Tata Sons owns an 84% stake in AirAsia India. There are speculations that the Group is planning to merge it with Air India Express. If cemented, the integration will help Tata establish a single airline structure that it has been planning for a while. AirAsia Bhd, the minority stakeholder of AirAsia India, will exit by the end of this financial year and no longer be a part of the brand or the venture.
