How Virgin Atlantic is creating a more inclusive travel experience for visually impaired passengers.

The airline is training its cabin crew to create a more engaging travel experience.

Virgin Atlantic is training its cabin crew to use sight dogs to better treat passengers.

The new training, in partnership with the charity Guide Dogs, will help develop “an inclusive air travel experience for the visually impaired,” the airline said. The training includes both online resources and an opportunity for in-depth hands-on training.

“At Virgin Atlantic, we believe everyone can take on the world and that means making sure each and every one of our customers has a great experience when they fly with us,” said Cornell Coster, Chief Customer and Operations Officer at Virgin Atlantic. Statement found Travel + entertainment. “Our partnership with Guide Dogs is part of this journey and aims to expand our awareness of people traveling with visual impairments, making flying accessible to everyone. We recognize that we have work to do, but look forward to making a real impact together as our partnership grows.

The training will focus on how to best approach passengers with visual impairments, how to help them navigate narrow spaces and stairs, and how to help them take seats. The training also addresses the best places for guide dogs to rest on long trips.

John Welsman, head of customer experience at Guide Dogs, said the new partnership will “impact the lives of people with vision loss for the better” and the group hopes that going forward “blind and partially sighted passengers will have the confidence to travel. As fully and independently as possible.”

Seeing eye dogs are defined as a type of service animal in the United States, according to the National Network of Americans with Disabilities. The Department of Transportation defines a service animal as “a dog that is individually trained to perform work or tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.” These animals are welcome to travel with passengers in the cabin but must be leashed at the passenger’s feet and must be harnessed or leashed at all times.

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Read the first article on Travel and Leisure.