Bengaluru, Sep 15: Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru has introduced a Special Assistance Zone at Terminal 1, a dedicated facility providing end-to-end support for passengers who may require additional assistance during their airport journey. This includes Persons with Reduced Mobility, Persons with Disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant women, unaccompanied minors and other passengers requiring special assistance.
The zone is designed to streamline the initial stages of the passenger journey by bringing check-in, baggage assistance and waiting facilities together within one dedicated space, before security screening. With direct access from Priority Gate 5A, it features two dedicated assistance desks staffed by airline partners, with a wheelchair-friendly design to facilitate check-in. Once passengers arrive at the assistance desk, their baggage is collected and transported by staff to the baggage belt, eliminating the need to navigate the baggage drop process independently.
The space also offers 20 accessible seats with charging points, with additional seating outside for accompanying family members and caretakers. Flight Information Display System screens provide journey updates, enabling passengers to wait comfortably.
“For us, accessibility is fundamentally about understanding the different needs of our passengers and designing the airport experience around them. The introduction of the Special Assistance Zone reflects this thinking, bringing greater ease, dignity and confidence to a part of the journey that can often be challenging for passengers requiring additional support. As BLR Airport continues to grow, we remain committed to ensuring that this growth is matched by an experience that is thoughtful, inclusive and responsive to every passenger.” – BIAL Spokesperson.
The Special Assistance Zone is part of BLR Airport’s broader approach to accessibility and inclusive passenger experience, with initiatives spanning physical infrastructure, assistive support, employee preparedness and digital accessibility. These include Mobility Assist for passengers with disabilities, sensory room for neurodivergent passengers, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard programme, accessibility-focused staff training and sensitisation, and digital tools such as the Social Story feature for neurodivergent passengers and caregivers.
This continued focus on accessibility has also been recognised through ACI Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation Level 3, with BLR Airport becoming the first airport in India to achieve the highest level of the programme.
Together, these efforts reflect BLR Airport’s focus on embedding accessibility across the passenger journey, from the way spaces and services are designed to how passengers are supported, creating a more seamless, comfortable and inclusive airport experience.