Airport assistance service provider OmniServ has partnered with Heathrow Airport to introduce a new range of multi-passenger electric vehicles designed to help passengers with disabilities to move through the airport’s terminal buildings.
The Multimobby can carry up to seven people plus an operator and is made by Netherlands-based company Special Mobility, which already supplies specialist equipment designed for airport use. The new electric movers can handle up to three wheelchairs at once and provide an innovative and efficient method of transportation for passengers.
Jonathan Coen, director of customer relations and service at Heathrow, said, “We are committed to improving the journeys of all of our passengers – no matter their requirements. An airport the size of Heathrow can be difficult to maneuver through and these Multimobbys will make a real difference to our passengers requiring assistance, particularly those with mobility issues or disabilities. The introduction of technology such as Multimobbys forms part of our wider efforts to transform our assistance service – including investing £23m [US$29m] in an upgraded contract with OmniServ – and help us deliver the high levels of passenger service people have rightly come to expect from us.”
Samantha Berry, head of innovation and regulatory compliance at OmniServ, added, “OmniServ is committed to delivering the best possible experience for all passengers at Heathrow, including people who find it difficult to make their own way through the terminals. The new Multimobby vehicles are part of a major investment we are making in new equipment and technologies, which is being backed with in-depth training for our staff, that will help us deliver on that promise.”
Heathrow, OmniServ and Special Mobility worked together to design a customized version of the Multimobby people mover to Heathrow’s requirements, including the ability to fit in the airport’s lifts and a space to attach a wheelchair.