Teesside Airport has achieved a “Very Good” rating from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in its accessibility performance report for the second year in a row. Some of the initiatives that Teesside has undertaken include an immersive virtual tour to enable passengers to familiarise themselves with the airport, and being a part of the Hidden Disability Sunflower scheme.
The “Very Good” rating is awarded when 99 per cent of all departing notified disabled passengers, and those with reduced mobility, are provided with assistance within 30 minutes of making themselves known at a designated point.
In addition to the rating, the airport is working with the North East Autism Society (NEAS) on a film about hidden barriers during air travel.
“We’re delighted to see Teesside Airport once again recognised for its commitment to accessibility,” said Kerrie Highcock, Family Development Manager at NEAS. “The airport’s proactive efforts to understand and address the challenges faced by autistic and neurodivergent passengers demonstrate a genuine dedication to inclusive travel. They have shown a willingness to adapt their services to meet the diverse needs of its passengers, creating an environment where people can feel confident and supported throughout their journey.”
“We’re very pleased to receive this rating from the CAA once again,” commented Tom Berwick, Passenger Operations Manager at Teesside Airport. “All our staff are trained in assistance awareness training, and we work very hard to both meet our legal requirements and go a step further. It was a pleasure to host NEAS to hear about some of things we do well, but, alongside listening to our accessibility forum, it’s been good to hear about what more we can do to make journeys to and from Teesside as smooth as possible.”
Photo: Teesside Airport
