Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, India (BLR Airport) joined the global Sunflower network in December 2022, offering passengers with hidden disabilities the opportunity to travel with confidence by choosing to wear the Sunflower.
Navigating unfamiliar places and procedures while catching a flight can be stressful, especially for passengers with disabilities. And, not all disabilities are visible – some disabilities can be invisible to an onlooker, such as low vision, autism, dementia, or hearing loss.
The Sunflower provides an extra layer of assistance for people with a hidden disability and helps make their airport experience more comfortable and anxiety-free. BLR Airport staff have been trained to identify Sunflower lanyards and to offer additional support, such as allowing more time for passengers to complete a particular procedure or guiding them through airport processes.
Passengers can collect a free lanyard from the customer service kiosks in the terminal building just before entering security. While they provide a discreet signal to airport staff, wearing a lanyard does not guarantee fast tracking through security or any preferential expedited service.
Passengers should contact their respective airlines and make them aware of any special assistance requirements (such as wheelchairs) they may have before they travel.
Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore International Airport Ltd, said:
“Our staff are excited about the Sunflower programme that not only brings a positive change for travellers but has also broadened their understanding of hidden disabilities in people. The extra layer of assistance that this programme provides for people with hidden disabilities will help make their airport experience more comfortable.”
Paul White, CEO of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, said:
“We are delighted that the first Indian airport, Kempegowda International Airport, BLR - Bengaluru has joined the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network. As a thriving destination for business and culture, BLR now welcomes both domestic and international passengers with non-visible disabilities who choose to wear the Sunflower to discreetly indicate to staff that they may need support and a bit more time in what can be an overwhelming environment.”
Since opening in 2008 the Airport has seen unprecedented growth in passenger volumes, serving over 33 million passengers in 2019, and becoming one of the fastest-growing Airports in the world. As the busiest airport in South India and the third largest in the Country, BLR Airport achieved a significant milestone in June 2022 by crossing the 250 million passenger mark since the launch of its operations or Airport Opening Day (AOD). The state-of-the-art Terminal 2 of BLR Airport was inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, on November 11, 2022.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and BLR staff will be helping thousands of passengers transition through the airport daily!
Learn more about Kempegowda International Airport
Is your organisation a member of the Sunflower network?
Is your place of work Sunflower friendly? If not, why not suggest they look into becoming members of the Sunflower? We provide training and assistance to help businesses recognise the Sunflower to support individuals with non-visible disabilities and become confident in providing them with additional help or assistance.
Join an impressive network of organisations so our Sunflower wearers can find you as they plan their days out:
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- and even reveal your Sunflower-friendly events
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