UK-based airport assistance services provider OmniServ is partnering with London Stansted airport to trial a new mobility solution.
The new solution, the Wheellator, combines the benefits of a wheeled walking frame and a lightweight wheelchair. Passengers with low- to medium-level mobility issues can use the frames as walkers. If they get tired, they can turn the frames around and use the Wheellator as a seat for a short rest. Or, if necessary, the Wheellator can be pushed as a wheelchair, or moved by the user themselves.
Samantha Saunders, head of innovation and regulatory compliance at OmniServ, said, “The Wheellator provides passengers with mobility issues with the option to define and adapt the support they need, enabling them to maintain their independence.”
On the decision to trial the Wheellator, Lucy Martin, Passengers with Reduced Mobility manager at London Stansted Airport, said, “It’s important that every passenger, regardless of any disability or assistance requirements, can travel confidently, easily and conveniently through London Stansted. The Wheellator gives passengers another means of assistance, if they require it, so they can relax and enjoy their time at the airport.”
Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the Wheellator was originally developed in 2013 by manufacturer Tukimet Oy, a walking aids specialist based in Finland. It has been imported into the UK by mobility aids specialist Polymorit since 2017.