Braille on the plane: United introduces it, Lufthansa observes

2023-07-29 10:17:00

Inclusion United Airlines introduces Braille on board its planes – and Lufthansa?

Among other things, the seat rows and seats in the aircraft are to be marked with Braille

© United Airlines / PR

United Airlines is leading the way and wants to equip the entire aircraft fleet with instructions in Braille. Lufthansa is cautious.

This change could bring relief to millions of travelers. The US airline United Airlines – one of the largest in the world – wants to have its entire fleet with notices in Provide Braille for visually impaired passengers. For example, the seats or the toilets are to be equipped with tactile information in the future to make it easier for the people concerned to find their way around.

Lufthansa is not planning Braille

United Airline announced the planned change this week. The conversion of around 900 machines should be completed by 2026. According to its own statements, the US airline is the first airline to cater to the blind and other visually impaired travelers with its entire fleet in this way – almost 200 years after the invention of Braille.

Blind groups across the United States welcome United Airlines’ move and urge other airlines to follow suit.

In Germany, too, instructions in Braille have so far not been common on board aircraft – and this will remain the case with the country’s largest airline, Lufthansa, for the time being. “We are not currently planning to introduce this either,” it says stern-Inquiry from corporate headquarters. Instead, the crane airline relies on personal care for passengers who are visually impaired. “This service can be booked with the flight,” the airline continues.

“In addition, our flight attendants are trained in how to deal with these travelers, so any help that may be needed can be offered.” Among other things, the group emphasizes that there is a separate, personal safety briefing for those affected or that the arrangement of the food on the tray is explained.

“We are very excited”

The German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired points out that Lufthansa allows one companion of the visually impaired to fly free of charge on domestic flights. Nevertheless, the lobby calls for the use of Braille in as many public places as possible. Tactile writing is already being used in many places at Deutsche Bahn, albeit by no means across the board. It is estimated that there are more than a million blind or partially sighted people in Germany.

However, it is not entirely out of the question that Lufthansa will change course. “Of course we are observing the experiences of our Star Alliance partner United and we are very excited about it,” the company said.

Sources: United Airlines, American Council of the Blind, Lufthansa, German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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