United Airlines has become the first U.S. Airline to add Braille to its planes. Braille is a special writing system that uses raised dots to help blind people read. United has already added Braille to rows, seat numbers, and bathrooms on about twelve of their planes. By the end of 2026, they plan to have Braille on all their mainline fleet. This will make flying more accessible for blind passengers.
According to the Department of Transportation, more than 27 million people with disabilities traveled by air in 2019. Acknowledging the difficulties faced by visually impaired customers, Linda Jojo, the executive vice president for United, stated:
“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. By adding more tactile signage throughout our interiors, we’re making the flying experience more inclusive and accessible, and that’s good for everyone.”
Moreover, United is working in collaboration with the disability advocacy groups to implement additional tactile navigational aids. These include raised letters, numbers, and arrows.
Mark Riccobono, the president of NFB, commended United’s efforts in making aircraft “more accessible to blind passengers.” He expressed hope for continued collaboration to explore further ways to make flying less stressful and more accessible for blind passengers.
In addition to this initiative, a “first of its kind” design was recently unveiled to make Airplanes more accommodating for travelers who rely on electric-powered wheelchairs.
