OREANDA-NEWS. March 19, 2012. Domodedovo Airport records an increasing number of mobility challenged travelers: 28,807 passengers with restricted mobility (PRM) used the services of the Airport Specialized Service in 2011, a 30% increase from 2010. Totally, the number of special-purpose passengers who applied for special services increased during the last five years by 243%.

In order to improve services provided to physically challenged passengers, Domodedovo Airport expanded the staff of the special-purpose service to 53 employees. 75 new wheelchairs were purchased to attend to passengers with restricted mobility. In 2012, the airport plans to launch new apron ambulifts to help disabled passengers comfortably move on board the aircraft.

The terminal entrances are equipped with help buttons for wheelchair passengers to pass through the automatic doors; inside the terminal there are payphones for free connection with the airport information service. The customs and passport control terminals are equipped with special stands to complete customs documents.

The airport provides 578 parking places (10% of the total parking capacity) for disabled passengers and their accompanying persons who arrive on their own cars. If all special parking places are occupied, such vehicles may be put on any unmarked parking place upon the agreement with the parking lot attendant by phone: 8 916 509 52 93 or through a feed-back system of the automated point-of-sale terminal. The parking service is free of charge, if the passenger provides the following documents: for passengers with restricted mobility – a certificate from the Medical Expert Commission or certificate of disability, vehicle registration certificate and identity documents; guardians or parents of a disabled child – passports, vehicle registration certificate, documents certifying guardian rights, a certificate from the Medical Expert Commission or certificate of disability of a child, documents certifying family relations (child’s birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)

Domodedovo airport was the first in Russia to introduce an induction system for passengers with hearing disabilities which enables them to hear messages announced in all major airport zones.

Domodedovo introduced a new standard of providing services to physically challenged passengers, which was jointly developed by the All-Russian Society for the Disabled, Moscow Domodedovo Airport, Transaero and the Association of Transport Service Providers. The standard describes the general principles of services provided to disabled passengers and methods of their transportation by air. Domodedovo staff members continuously improve their communication skills with passengers with restricted mobility through specially developed training programs.

Domodedovo Airport continuously enhances its infrastructure for passengers with restricted mobility. Currently, it implements several projects to create a unified safe route for mobility challenged persons, covered areas and entrance ramps in the parking lot, the system of Braille script signs, reference books and route maps. The airport purchases equipment for special toilets and bathrooms. Special information stands, trade sections and airbridges are equipped to meet the needs of mobility disabled passengers.

*Physically Challenged Passenger Service is a special unit established in Domodedovo Airport in 2003. Its staff members work to provide the most comfortable and quick services on check in, customs and immigration control, baggage check in and attend the passengers to (from) the aircraft. Such services may be ordered directly from the airport while purchasing the ticket or at any check in counter, information stand or medical service office of the passenger terminal. The airport provides such services free of charge.