Alicante Airport Wins Prestigious ACI EUROPE Award for Accessibility Excellence
Thursday, June 29th, 2023
Airports Council International annual awards ceremony 2023
The prestigious Annual ACI EUROPE “Best Airport Award” winners were announced on Tuesday, 27/6/2023 at a gala dinner held in the MNAC – National Museum of Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. These awards serve as a platform to acknowledge excellence, outstanding achievements, and leadership, catering to airports of all sizes and profiles. In addition, five special category awards were presented to recognize exceptional performance in Accessibility, Digital Transformation, Eco-Innovation, Human Resources, and World Business Partner.
Award for Alicante Airport
The winners of these esteemed awards were carefully chosen by a panel of expert judges, comprising representatives from different associations. Among the recipients, Alicante-Elche Airport emerged victorious as it was named the most accessible airport in Europe. The airport director, Laura Navarró, proudly accepted the accolade during the ceremony.
This notable award specifically acknowledges the airport’s remarkable efforts in catering to persons with disabilities and reduced mobility. ACI EUROPE collaborated with the European Disability Forum to identify the airport that demonstrated significant progress in offering accessible services and removing barriers for passengers. The judges, in consultation with national Disabled Persons’ Organisations (DPOs), unanimously selected Alicante Airport as the deserving winner due to its exceptional commitment that surpasses the minimum accessibility requirements outlined in the EU Regulation 1107/2006.
Alicante Airport – the most accessible airport in Europe
Alicante Airport has implemented innovative tools and services that greatly benefit travellers with disabilities. These include establishing direct communication channels for assistance with the airport, in addition to airlines, providing designated areas for electric wheelchair charging, developing user-friendly mobile apps to aid visually impaired passengers in navigating the airport, and creating dedicated PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) lanes for security and passport controls. Moreover, the airport has impressive plans for the future, such as constructing a sensory room to cater to hidden disabilities.
The recognition bestowed upon Alicante-Elche Airport for its commitment to accessibility reaffirms its dedication to providing an inclusive and seamless travel experience for all passengers. With this prestigious award, Alicante Airport sets a shining example for other airports, inspiring the industry to prioritize accessibility and embrace innovative solutions that enhance the travel experience for individuals with disabilities and reduced mobility.
You can find more information about ACI Europe under the following link:
