Delta has set out a series of accessibility measures as the US Air Carrier Access Act reaches its 40th anniversary. The airline says feedback from passengers with disabilities is helping shape how it trains staff and designs the travel experience.
The carrier points to its Advisory Board on Disability and Accessible Travel, established nearly three decades ago, as one channel for that feedback. Delta says recent and planned changes include tactile controls on some Delta One seats, tactile lavatory features and a wheelchair-accessible lavatory on select new aircraft. The airline does not say that these features are available across its entire fleet.
Delta also says all English-language inflight entertainment content has closed captions, and that it is expanding audio-described programming. Important onboard announcements can be shown on seatback screens for passengers who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Its website and app are being developed to let customers communicate accessibility needs and provide information about mobility devices.
The announcement is the airline's account of its own programme, rather than an independent assessment of the experience on every flight. For aviation teams, it highlights how cabin equipment, digital information and ground-service training need to work together if accessibility is to be consistent from booking to arrival.