Delta launches new flight map designed for accessibility

Delta is bringing a new, extra accessible flight map to most of its 165,000 seatback screens—probably the most within the trade—making the beloved shifting map expertise extra accessible than ever. The new flight map prioritizes accessibility whereas persevering with to supply the important thing options clients know, love and count on. Its high-contrast show and options are designed particularly with travellers with low-vision disabilities in thoughts. The enhanced product ensures that much more clients are empowered to expertise the flight map effortlessly and independently.

“No one better connects the world than Delta,” says Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Managing Director of Customer Experience – In-Flight Entertainment, Delta Studio and Wi-Fi. “To truly fulfill that promise, we must ensure every customer can connect with their journey in a way that enhances their experience and makes them feel valued and cared for. We are proud to be the first airline to launch this technology, setting the standard for inclusive travel experiences across the industry.”

For numerous vacationers, Delta’s flight map is a beloved a part of the in-flight leisure expertise—it’s a possibility to immerse themselves of their journey whereas embracing mindfulness via the calming particulars of the shifting map. Delta’s new flight map demonstrates the airline’s understanding of the significance of constructing this expertise accessible.

Delivering a world-class expertise to all travellers 

Delta’s dedication to accessibility is rooted in its perception that journey is for everybody. Already an trade chief with 100% closed captioning on all films and sequence content material and a 40% improve in audio descriptive content material within the final yr, Delta continues to hunt methods to make journey extra accessible.

While its flight map was already constructed to satisfy all Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements, Delta noticed a possibility to push additional. Alongside inflight map supplier FlightPath3D, the airline collaborated carefully with its Advisory Board on Disability, presenting an early model of the map for hands-on testing and suggestions that was instrumental in refining the ultimate design and performance that clients will expertise immediately. This collaborative method emphasizes the significance of listening, studying and innovating based mostly on the true experiences of these most affected by inclusive design efforts.

“It’s exciting as a visually impaired person that Delta is making the flight map more accessible for low-vision users,” says Thomas Panek, Chair of Delta’s Advisory Board on Disability and President of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. “By making flight maps more accessible to low-vision users, Delta is making the experience better for all travelers.”

Inclusivity as a Core Design Feature 

The new flight map is rolling out to clients now on greater than 650 plane throughout the airline’s world fleet. Core options embrace:

• High-Contrast Visuals: Bright colours towards darkish background or grayscale rendering ensures most visibility and decreased eye pressure.

• Color Blind Palette: Use of patterns and textures along with colours to tell apart totally different areas and components on the map.

• Large Text & Icons: All textual content and iconography is rendered at bigger sizes, eliminating the necessity to squint or pressure to make out particulars.

• Streamlined Information: Clearly labeled map options like international locations, borders and main cities are prioritized to cut back muddle and improve readability.

• Zoom & Pan Controls: Users can zoom in/out and pan across the map view to regulate to their most popular perspective and visible wants.

• Voice Narration (coming in future variations of the accessible map expertise): Planned voice narration will leverage AI and flight information to supply audio updates on arrival occasions, factors of curiosity and extra.

Delta is aware of that the trail to a extra accessible journey expertise is a journey, however the airline is proud to be shifting in the fitting route.