Europe named the 2020 Accessible Airport
Airports Council International (ACI Europe) presented awards to the winners of the 16th Annual ACI Europe Best Airport Awards, selecting the best hubs in this part of the planet. The prize is traditionally awarded for outstanding achievements in various fields - from business process management to environmental protection. A separate nomination is provided for the development of accessibility for passengers with disabilities. In 2020, Copenhagen Airport (Denmark) was recognized as the best in this category.
As part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by ACI Europe and the European Disability Forum (EDF) in 2016, the Accessible Airport Award recognizes the best airport in Europe in terms of accessibility. The purpose of the award is not only to recognize the airport's achievements, but also to push other members of the alliance to remove the barriers that people with disabilities and passengers with limited mobility still face when flying.
The judges were impressed by the efforts made by Copenhagen Airport towards accessibility and inclusive services in a particularly difficult time for the industry. The judges praised the airport’s high-quality facilities and services, including an interactive PRM-friendly wayfinder, e-gates and check-in desks for PRMs and good public transport connection with close proximity to the entrance of the airport, enabling PRMs to be assisted from the railway platform to the airport. The judges cited the airport’s website as an effective communication channel with clear information and the possibility to make a complaint if the rights of persons with disabilities are not respected. The airport was also honoured for its regular and extensive staff training on PRM, which is provided not only to those that have to get such training according to Regulation 1107/2006, but to anyone working at the airport, from sales people to security personnel.
“It is still very important to us that all our passengers feel safe, secure and welcome at Copenhagen Airport. Therefore, the great recognition from ACI Europe is a testament to the fact that the efforts we have made to be a far more accessible airport for all types of passengers have borne fruit. Regardless of who you are or what prerequisites you as a passenger bring, you must be able to have a good and safe travel experience at Copenhagen Airport, ” says Passenger Manager Susanne Rose Plum.
For many years, the airport has been working to create comfortable place for air travelers with disabilities. Earlier this year, Copenhagen Airport introduced a new assistance scheme for passengers with special needs (sunflower sign). People with implicit disabilities may wear this badge to signal to airport staff that they may need additional assistance. Then this scheme was introduced at all major airports in the country.
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport was highly commended for this Award.
This year, the award was also presented for the effectiveness of measures aimed at countering COVID-19. The best experts named the airports of Turin (Italy), Malta, Cork (Ireland), Larnaca (Cyprus), Hamburg (Germany), Lyon (France), Lisbon (Portugal), Rome (Italy) and Istanbul (Turkey) airports.