Passengers with reduced mobility will find their lives just got a little easier at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. From the second week in September 2024, self-driving wheelchairs are available at the hub “to enhance the independence of these travellers with reduced mobility and make travelling as easy as possible for them”, an airport press release has announced.
Available airside for a year-long trial
In the first instance, ten “autonomous” wheelchairs, manufactured by mobility solutions firm WHILL, will be in action around the airport in a trial set to take place over the next year.
Anyone with reduced mobility, including older passengers or those requiring special assistance, can make use of the chairs, in a service which is completely free-of-charge. The wheelchairs are to be found in three different locations in Lounges 2 and 3, which are situated just after passport control in the non-Schengen area with primarily intercontinental destinations.
No advance reservation system
It is not necessary to book the equipment in advance, the airport says. However, this means only departing passengers will be able to take up the offer, and they will need to make their own way around prior to reaching airside.
What’s more, the lack of a reservation system means the availability of one of the ten chairs cannot be guaranteed. This raises questions over how useful the service will prove in reality and whether those with the most serious physical challenges would want to or be able to rely on the WHILL products.
Still, a previous trial in 2023 showed that “Travellers with reduced mobility would like to move around the airport independently. The self-driving wheelchairs make that possible, without the need for an assistant to accompany them. This innovation is an important step in our ongoing efforts to make the airport accessible to everyone,” the airport said.
Sensors, seatbelt and emergency button
To operate the wheelchairs, travellers “can simply get in, put on their seatbelt and select their gate number,” airport instructions say. “The wheelchair will then drive autonomously to the gate. Upon arrival, the traveller gets out of the wheelchair, and it automatically drives back to the starting point.”
Also featuring a baggage rack at the rear, the wheelchairs work by using sensors that detect other travellers, obstacles and surroundings and are equipped with an emergency button and a seatbelt to ensure safety. If travellers do need personal assistance, it will be provided by Axxicom Airport Caddy.
