Accessible Inflight Safety Information: The Case of Qatar Airways

Safety is one of the concerns people usually have whenever travelling or using any kind of transportation. Closed spaces tend to be more dangerous, which can raise the level of anxiety. In airplanes, a small mistake could lead to an accident and consequently to a massive loss of lives. Thus, as the possibilities of risk get higher, the importance of safety instructions increase. This is particularly the case for individuals with sensory loss, for example, the blind. Using Qatar Airways as a case study. This research aims to (1) understand the needs of blind travellers when flying, (2) determine if the information provided inflight is adequate, (3) develop an Audio-Tactile Information KIT (ATIK) for blind travellers as a part of a multisensory kit, and (4) validate the new approach to inflight information for blind travellers. In order to achieve this, I carried out an exploratory research project to respond to the following questions: (1) How useful is the existing inflight safety information to blind passengers? (2) Can an Audio-Tactile Information Kit improve blind people’s understanding of safety information inflight? This exploratory research was carried out in four phases: (1) Research and semi structured interviews with both blind people and a number of Qatar Airways cabin crew and trainers to find their perception of the current situation, when it comes to blind travellers. Then, (2) development of audio-tactile Information Kit; which was (4) tested with blind people. For the testing, a qualitative approach was taken in the form of a small focus group of 12 blind participants. Questionnaires were used to provide objective information that would be analysed to arrive at the “what” and “how” of each experience. This research project ends with a set of recommendations, mainly provided by the blind participants themselves, to be considered by all the parties involved in the travelling process, in an integrated effort towards raising the quality of air travel for blind people.