United Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to add Braille to aircraft cabin interiors, helping millions of travelers with visual disabilities more easily navigate the cabin independently. The airline currently has equipped about a dozen aircraft with Braille markings for individual rows and seat numbers as well as inside and outside the lavatories. United expects to outfit its entire mainline fleet with Braille by the end of 2026.
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According to the Department of Transportation, about 27 million people with disabilities traveled by air in 2019. Linda Jojo, Executive Vice President, Chief Customer Officer for United, acknowledged the difficulties experienced by customers who are blind or have visual disabilities. "Finding your seat on a plane or getting to the restroom is something most of us take for granted, but for millions of our customers, it can be a challenge to do independently," she said in a statement.
In addition to adding Braille, United is working with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the American Council of the Blind (ACB), and other disability advocacy groups to explore the use of other tactile navigational aids throughout the cabin such as raised letters, numbers and arrows. NFB President Mark Riccobono commended United for making its aircraft "more accessible to blind passengers" and hopes to continue working with United to explore additional ways to make flying more accessible and less stressful for blind passengers.
This is an important step towards making air travel more inclusive and accessible for all. We hope that other airlines will follow United's lead in making their aircraft more accessible to passengers with visual disabilities.