JFK International Airport Launches Tool To Help Blind Travelers

QUEENS, NY — John F. Kennedy Airport has launched a new tool to help blind passengers get around its international terminal.

JFK's Terminal 4 on Friday introduced a new service to help vision-impaired passengers check their flight status, find gates and luggage, use self-service kiosks, go through TSA checkpoints and find restaurants and shops.

Air travelers will be able to use the smartphone app Aira Access to set up a video stream with an agent, who can provide visual descriptions on demand to help travelers move through the terminal.

"We are always looking for ways to better serve our passengers, and Aira Access is an excellent tool for improving the airport experience for those travelers who are blind or low vision,” Roel Huinink, president and CEO of JFK's international air terminal, said in a statement.

"We are proud to be the first New York City airport terminal to bring this service on board," he added.

More than 30 airports around the world have used the technology to assist travelers with vision impairments, according to JFK.