MIA turns into first airport in Florida, second in U.S. to earn international accreditation for accessibility
In recognition of its dedication to “prioritizing and guaranteeing an accessible, secure, and inclusive touring expertise for passengers with disabilities,” Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) has been accredited by the Airports Council Worldwide (ACI) Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA) program.
MIA is the primary airport in Florida and the second in america to be accredited by this system, which was created by ACI in September 2022 primarily based on present worldwide finest practices and proposals, together with these within the ACI Airport and Individuals with Incapacity Handbook.
The AEA program additionally acquired enter from international airport members, business companions, and accessibility advocacy teams.
“We try to make Miami-Dade County providers as accessible as attainable to all of our residents, which is why I’m so proud that MIA’s efforts to serve vacationers with disabilities are being acknowledged internationally,” mentioned Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “As MIA continues to develop and enhance at each stage, this international accreditation is proof that the client expertise on the gateway to our group is heading in the right direction.”
“Your airport has efficiently confirmed its skill and dedication to make sure an accessible, secure, and inclusive airport expertise for passengers, airport employees, and the visiting public with disabilities, together with bodily impairments and non-apparent disabilities, in addition to the aged,” wrote Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director Common, ACI World, in his congratulatory letter to MIA Director and CEO Ralph Cutié.
“It’s essential that airports guarantee they prioritize their nationwide laws on all issues associated to accessibility, security, and inclusiveness of vacationers, airport employees, and the visiting public, when relevant, whereas repeatedly enhancing entry for all and aiming to take away obstacles within the airport expertise. We really feel assured that your efforts will assist us in attaining this widespread aim.”
Inside the final 10 years, MIA’s MyMIAccess program has launched a various menu of accessibility providers, similar to: the MIAair tour program, which permits passengers with disabilities the chance to apply the journey expertise in a secure and managed surroundings; accessibility lanes in its U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) areas; wheelchair charging stations at 10 handy areas; sunflower lanyards freed from cost to vacationers with hidden disabilities; multi-sensory rooms in its North and South terminals, the place younger passengers with cognitive and developmental disabilities can discover a calming place to loosen up through the journey expertise.
It additionally has the Aira Airport Community, a free cellular service that enables blind or low-vision vacationers to obtain navigation help at MIA; and 7 service animal reduction areas with indoor and outside areas.
“We’ve labored tirelessly to satisfy and exceed the wants of our vacationers with disabilities, which makes ACI’s accreditation of our accessibility providers extraordinarily gratifying,” mentioned Ralph Cutié, MIA Director and CEO. “We’re making extra enhancements to our airport terminal, with the aim of offering better buyer satisfaction to all of our guests.”
The ACI accreditation is the newest in a sequence of accolades MIA has acquired for its accessibility providers. In July 2022, MIA acquired the Civil Rights Advocate and Companion Award from the Federal Aviation Administration, which honors ADA coordinators and airport sponsors who’ve demonstrated excellence in assembly the letter and the spirit of the Individuals with Disabilities Act and Part 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
MIA additionally received the 2021 Airport Accessibility Award through the sixth Annual Airport Passengers with Diminished Mobility (PRM) Management Convention, after incomes 50 p.c of the votes from the digital convention’s 159 attendees from 42 international locations all over the world.
ACI, the commerce affiliation of the world’s airports, was based in 1991 with the target of fostering cooperation amongst its member airports and different companions in world aviation, together with the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group, the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation, and the Civil Air Navigation Companies Group. ACI at present serves 712 members working 1,925 airports in 171 international locations.