10 trends in Accessibility for 2025
Key trends in Aviation and Transport.
You can listen to the main article in this newsletter (read by my AI clone).
Hello everyone,
As we approach 2025, I wondered what to expect regarding improved accessibility for disabled passengers in aviation and transport in the coming year. What is on the horizon, and what could be? From innovative aircraft designs to cutting-edge technologies, the future of accessible travel will change operations and strategies. So, here are ten trends I think are likely to arise in 2025.
1. Wheelchair Accessibility in Aircraft Cabins
One of the most groundbreaking developments is the potential introduction of wheelchair spaces in aircraft cabins. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that safety approvals for wheelchair tie-down systems in aircraft are expected as early as 2025. Allowing wheelchair users to stay in their own wheelchairs during the flight would be a huge game changer for accessibility. I don’t think we will see this in operation in 2025 yet, and several systems compete with each other, but it is coming.
2. Turn Up and Go (TUAG)
I said it before, and I say it again: having to book assistance when using trains (or planes) isn’t equality, and it isn’t the future. Turn up and go is the future, especially with the rising number of disabled passengers. Already today, more journeys are TUAG than booked, especially in London’s commuter areas. So, transport providers must work towards a system that expects disabled passengers all the time and constantly, not treating their wish to travel as something special that has to be booked.
That’s why level boarding is so important. With the growing number of people who need assistance due to the steps and gaps, a 1:1 assistance system is not future-proof and doesn’t meet passenger expectations.
3. Change of expectations
Already, my generation of disabled people is quite vocal when it comes to expectations when travelling (rightly so!), but the generations after me are even more so. They expect true inclusion. So, 2025 could be a good start to tender only for rolling stock trains that match the standard platform height to meet the expectations of future generations and to remove barriers. More and more disabled people don’t accept discrimination and exclusion anymore. The boomer generation still expects to travel when they’re 70 or older. The mindset shifts towards acceptance of disability and age-related needs instead of staying at home. That’s actually good news but the systems need to change to meet these customer expectations.
4. Universal design
Airports, train stations and public transport hubs must increasingly adopt universal design principles. This ensures accessibility for all passengers, including disabled and older people, families with children, cyclists and people with luggage. The standard passenger who can mitigate the shortcomings of lousy architecture and planning can’t be the idea of modern infrastructure anymore. 2025 must be the year of design that meets diverse accessibility needs to provide sustainable infrastructure.
5. Sustainable Accessibility Solutions
Sustainability and accessibility will converge with eco-friendly transport solutions designed with an inclusive approach. Only an accessible transport strategy is sustainable. It’s not sustainable to build projects that have to get demolished in ten years or stay inaccessible for even longer. Ignoring the fact that more people are older and disabled can never be a sustainable approach.
6. Policy-Driven Innovation
Governments and international organisations will introduce stricter regulations mandating accessibility in all forms of transport (e.g. stricter US regulations and fines in aviation) because it’s the right thing to do in 2025. And why shouldn’t they? It makes economic sense, and it prevents exclusion. So better be prepared and do the right thing in 2025 before getting forced to. It might even save money.
7. Affordable Accessibility
A key challenge in 2025 will be ensuring that accessibility solutions are affordable and accessible to all, regardless of income or geographic location. I see so many “innovations” in accessibility that are neither usable nor affordable for the average disabled person. 2025 should be the year of realistic and affordable solutions not Technoableism (I highly recommend Ashley Shew’s book if you want to understand the problem behind this a bit more).
8. Real-time and data-driven accessibility
Have you ever tried to find out if a train station has lifts? When is staff available to assist, and does the lift work at both ends of the journey? When you managed to do that, how did you keep up to date on the lift status during the journey? And how did you book the ticket? And the wheelchair space? And how many apps did you use to do all that? 2025 must become the year of real-time accessibility (see my last newsletter about how valuable real-time communication is for accessibility), and systems must provide data-driven accessibility, not in five apps. I just want to book a ticket with a profile that knows I’m a wheelchair user, and that’s it. Everything else must happen automatically. If the lift is broken, please inform me promptly. The data is available. We should use it more wisely in 2025.
9. AI and Assistive devices
AI has a huge potential to improve accessibility. Many blind people are currently buying Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses. AI can describe the surroundings, to name one functionality that is used by blind people. Unfortunately, some features are unavailable in the EU and the UK because of legal restrictions. I hope legislators change the law in 2025 to enable blind people to use the same functionality as those in the US. There is no reason I’m allowed to see my surroundings, but AI cannot describe it to my blind friends. That doesn’t protect anyone.
10. Inclusive active travel
Often, active travel concepts and planning only include cycling and walking, but it is so much more. Since I have my Triride wheelchair attachment, I’ve been actively travelling a lot. Others use mobility scooters to get to a station or push a manual wheelchair. That’s a positive development that should be supported in 2025. It’s not all about bikes; not all bikes look the same. I see so many Trirides in London (yes, other brands exist), and there will be more in 2025. So, concepts should expect different mobility devices and scooters, make room for them, and let them park somewhere.
In 2025, accessibility in transport and aviation will have to move beyond basic compliance towards a more holistic and inclusive approach, driven by technological advancements, evolving social norms, and a greater emphasis on the rights and needs of all travellers.
Thank you for 2024!
This is the last newsletter for 2024, and I would like to thank you all for reading it, responding to my texts, making suggestions, and being a very loyal readership of 597. Maybe we hit 600 by New Year’s Eve.
2024 was not an easy year for me healthwise, but I’m glad to say I’m much better than I was at the beginning of the year, and my heart is currently pumping as it should. Writing this newsletter in 2024 was a pleasure, and I hope I could inspire you to make the world more accessible and inclusive. I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a lovely rest of the year. The next newsletter will hit your inbox on the 6th of January 2025!
Some interesting links
Customers using Transport for London and Network Rail services in London can now access Google Street View to help them plan their journeys through and around large or underground stations.
Vienna wins 2025 Access City Award for leading the way in accessibility. I think it is absolutely justified. It’s one of the most accessible cities in Europe, especially the Underground.
House of Lords peer and Paralympian criticises inaccessibility of UK rail network.
Something to read
Travel behaviour differs between non-disabled and disabled transport users. Those who are disabled make 10–30% fewer trips. They tend to use different transport modes and travel to nearer destinations, but their journeys often take more time, are more complex, and can cost more. This is the result of a meta-review of literature reviews on disability, travel, and inequalities.
Some final words
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Who is writing this newsletter?
I’m Christiane Link, and I improve the customer experience in aviation, transport, and travel. I worked as a journalist for over two decades and travelled extensively for business and leisure. I’m a wheelchair user.
Work with me
Whether you're a Customer service director, a Head of Customer Experience, a corporate Accessibility manager, a DEI leader, a transport planner, or a disabled employee resource group member, I can help you to make your organisation more inclusive. You can book me for speaking engagements or hire me as a consultant for your accessibility or DEI strategy, communications advice and other related matters. I have worked for airlines, airports, train operators, public transport providers, and companies in other sectors.
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