Navigating airports can be difficult for blind and low vision (BLV) travelers, but starting Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, Houston’s airports became even more accessible for members of that community when it partnered with Aira, a subscription-based service providing wearable technology for the BLV community.

Now, at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport, subscribers to the Aira service will be able to use the technology free of charge. The two Houston airports are the first in Texas to partner with Aira on its airport network and just the third and fourth in the country to do so. Under the agreement, the Houston Airport System has agreed to cover the cost of minutes used by Aira subscribers within the airport terminals through the end of 2018.

“The Houston Airport System is constantly assessing how it can better enhance the airport experience. We work with our federal partners including the FAA – constantly reviewing and adapting the airport to exceed ADA standards,” said HAS Chief Operating Officer Jesus Saenz. “This partnership with Aira is one way of enhancing accessibility to a segment of the population that experiences blindness and low vision, and is another example of our efforts to go beyond the standard and truly make travel a great experience for everyone who comes through our airports.”

The Aira app and smart glasses connect travelers to a specially trained agent at a remote location, who sees a real-time livestream from the camera on the glasses or smart phone. The agent narrates what is in the user’s field of vision, assisting them with such tasks as navigating the terminal, locating and identifying luggage, reading flight boards, dining and shopping, and arranging ground transportation.

“Aira is a unique technology that gives users the information they need when they need it, and we are delighted to be able to offer this convenience to our passengers,” said Tim Joniec, the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator for Houston Airports.

The National Federation of the Blind and the American Foundation for the Blind have been staunch supporters throughout the development of Aira. Christine Ha, Houstonian, Aira user and a New York Times Bestselling Author who was the winner of MasterChef, Season 3, uses the technology to travel frequently through the Houston airports, and recently visited the airports to demonstrate how the technology works, along with Aira and airport executives.

For more information, please visit aira.io.