Exeter Airport (EXT) has launched a new virtual tour that seeks to provide assistance for those in need of accessible air travel.
The fully interactive tour, which can be found online, allows potential passengers the opportunity to navigate the airport from their own device, providing insight into car parking, check-in and security, as well as departure lounges and gates.
The tour aims to support inclusivity within air travel and was created by The Virtual Tour Experts, a Sidmouth-based company specialising in the creation of accessible 360° tours previously chosen to be part of the 2024 recipients of the Future of Air Mobility accelerator.
The virtual tour produced for Exeter Airport serves as the company’s showcase project, and is among the first aviation virtual tours to incorporate British Sign Language (BSL), as well as sensory-aware features, such as ambient soundscapes, that seek to reduce travel anxiety.
Stephen Witshire, Managing Director of Exeter Airport, said:This project underlines our commitment to making Exeter one of the UK’s most accessible and welcoming regional airports, and is designed to make travel easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
We’re proud to provide passengers with tools that not only ease anxiety but also make planning their journey simple, enjoyable and inclusive.
A six-month programme; the Future of Air Mobility accelerator is designed to trial ‘disruptive new innovations’ for the aviation sector, and is both funded and delivered by the UK’s Connected Places Catapult project.
Neil Henderson, Managing Director of The Virtual Tour Experts, said:Being selected for the Future of Air Mobility Accelerator was a huge endorsement of our mission to make travel more accessible. We chose Exeter Airport because it is a progressive regional hub that shares our values of inclusivity and innovation.
This project shows how airports of all sizes can harness immersive technology to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and create a more welcoming journey for every passenger.
The virtual tour was developed in conjunction with ongoing feedback from Exeter Airport’s own PRM (Passengers with Reduced Mobility) Consultative Committee, as well as surveys from more than 450 users across their transport virtual tours.
The tour also provides an autopilot function that aims to give step-by-step guidance from the airport’s entrance to the gate.
