Aurigny has marked a significant milestone in its objective to improve accessibility for more of its travellers with the delivery of new fully electric Aviramps for Southampton and London Gatwick airports.
The new units are in addition to those that are currently available at Guernsey Airport, thanks to partnership working earlier in the year with Guernsey Ports to improve the customer experience.
The specialised ramps provide step-free access to aircraft, making boarding and disembarking easier, safer and dignified for all travellers, including the 6,000 customers who have requested additional assistance over the last twelve months, and families with small children.
Graham Corfield, CEO of Aviramp, an organisation that services 850 airports worldwide, made a special visit to Guernsey to meet Aurigny representatives, including Dave Cox, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, and Station Manager Mickey Champion to find out how the technology is benefiting the island. During the visit, the team demonstrated how the solution works via a video shared on Aurigny’s social channels, giving travellers a first look at the upcoming enhancements.
Aurigny has also been assessing the impact of Aviramp use on its on-time-performance – and, on average, a 4-minute time saving per rotation is being achieved – thus it’s also an investment that is proving to benefit everyone flying with Aurigny. The airline is now working closely with its partners to train ground teams and complete the necessary procedural implementation to bring the technology into use at Gatwick and Southampton in the very near future. Upon completion, all Aurigny’s lifeline routes between Guernsey and the UK, which have the highest proportion of patient travel, will benefit from Aviramp access.
Dave Cox said: “By working with Aviramp and Guernsey Ports, we’ve enabled travellers in Guernsey to benefit from smoother, faster, and more dignified boarding experiences. I’m pleased to confirm a lot more will benefit from the technology very soon. As an industry, we still have more to do to make air travel more accessible, but it’s good to be able to reflect on the progress being made today, on National Accessibility in Aviation Day.”
Guernsey Ports Airport Director, Richard Thomasson, said: “Our investment with Aurigny last year to purchase two Aviramps for use at Guernsey Airport has meant that together we have been able to provide a much-improved travel experience for passengers with reduced mobility, which is a priority for Guernsey Ports. This further investment by Aurigny at Southampton and Gatwick means those benefits will soon be enjoyed by passengers at every stage of their journey, both to and from the island, and we very much welcome this initiative by the airline.”
Graham Corfield, Aviramp Chief Executive, said: “We’ve always believed that good accessibility solutions benefit everyone, not just disabled passengers. Our ramps improve safety for all while helping airports operate more efficiently. It was fantastic to be able to visit beautiful Guernsey and meet with Aurigny, who share our vision for a world where aviation is accessible for all.”
