Perth Airport is making it even easier for passengers travelling with an assistance animal by offering two new Service Animal Relief Areas in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4.
According to Perth Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer, Kate Holsgrove, the airport is committed to making travel more accessible for all passengers and enhancing their overall experience.
“We’re continually looking at opportunities to improve access for people travelling with a disability and the new facilities are part of our commitment to making our airport more accessible for all.
“When people with service animals travel, they are obviously keen to ensure that their animal is cared for in the best possible way, whether that be pre-or post-flight.”
She also added that, “the locations of the new facilities that have been chosen to allow quick and easy access, particularly while waiting on baggage or following the check-in process.”
The design elements of the new service animal relief areas include: signage (including braille); distress assistance/ cleaning assistance call button connected to the Airport Control Centre; accessible wash basin with shroud and mixer; audio instructions activated by a button; wall mounted dog waste bag dispenser; surface mounted waste receptacle; slip resistant floor finish; non-slip, removable astro-turf; retractable wall mounted hose unit.
Perth Airport’s Access and Inclusion Customer Reference Group, which advocates for accessibility and is working to improve the customer experience for passengers with disabilities, is working to create a more inclusive airport for Western Australia. It is working with VisAbility, Blind Citizens WA and People with Disabilities WA.
“We are committed to continuing these consultative forums to discuss the issues and barriers that people with disability experience while travelling,” Holsgrove added.
David Voscanos, Accessibility Specialist at VisAbility, said that new areas provide passengers with service animals a more private and fit for purpose facility which will improve the travel experience for people with disability.
Meanwhile, Erica Webb, Blind Citizens WA said: “It has been great working with the Perth Airport team on this initiative and we look forward to participating in other future projects to improve access for all at our airport.”
And Greg Madson from People with Disabilities WA said the new areas were a great initiative and provide some additional certainty that his service animal, Memphis, will be more comfortable and happier on his journey when he travels to and from Perth.
The new facilities have also been given the ‘woof’ of approval from Memphis as one of their first canine customers.
