20 August 2024 – Halifax, NS—Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) is pleased to launch three new accessibility programs and services to help remove barriers at Halifax Stanfield: the Sunflower Program, Aira App and Hearing Loops.
- The Sunflower Program offers travellers and airport visitors with non-visible (hidden) disabilities and needs to signal to airport employees that they may require additional support.
- The Aira App, in combination with a smartphone, allows travellers to connect to Aira-trained professionals for on-demand assistance to visual information to help them as they navigate the airport.
- Hearing Loops is a revolutionary technology designed to improve the understanding of speech for individuals with compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants. Eliminating background noise and directly transmitting sound to hearing devices will enhance the experience of travellers and airport visitors with hearing impairments throughout the airport.
This milestone reflects HIAA’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and ensuring that all travellers and airport visitors feel empowered when navigating the airport. All three programs and accessibility services are now available to individuals with visual and hearing impairments and hidden disabilities.
HIAA remains committed to continuously improving accessibility and exploring new initiatives to enhance the Stanfield experience for all travellers and airport visitors. More accessibility services will be introduced at the airport by 2026 as part of the airport’s Accessibility Plan.
Quotes/Testimonials
“Our goal at Halifax Stanfield is to provide a seamless and accessible experience for every traveller.
The introduction of these new accessibility programs and services marks a significant step forward
in achieving that goal. We are excited to offer more innovative solutions to travellers and airport
visitors, further demonstrating our commitment to creating a barrier-free airport environment.”
Joyce Carter, President & CEO, HIAA
“The Sunflower Program shows us the airport is committed to accessibility, inclusivity and ensuring everyone feels seen and supported.”
Jill Cormier, Autism Nova Scotia, Inclusion & Family Support Supervisor, AIDE Canada Atlantic Hub Coordinator
“The Hearing Loops at Halifax Stanfield has significantly improved my travel experience. By eliminating background noise and delivering clear audio directly into my hearing aid, it has made interactions at check-in counters and information desks much easier. This technology ensures that I don’t miss any important information, making my airport visit much more enjoyable.”
Dwight Habermehl, Community Member Quick Facts
- The Sunflower Program gives individuals with a hidden disability a discrete way of signalling to airport staff that they may need accommodation, such as more time or patience.
- Individuals who are travelling through Halifax Stanfield and reside in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island who wish to participate in the Sunflower Program may receive a complimentary lanyard or pin by request through the Halifax Stanfield website.
- Aira is an app that provides on-demand, remote visual interpretation services for the blind and low-vision community.
- Aira’s remote on-demand visual interpreters are certified and undergo comprehensive Aira training to provide immediate information to users and accomplish tasks as a team.
- Hearing Loops are found at all check-in counters (Domestic, International & U.S.), all gates, volunteer booths, the Nova Scotia Tourism Visitor Information Centre, and Ground Transportation booth.
- Hearing Loops broadcast sound which is received by telecoils (T-coils) in hearing aids and cochlear implants that translate the loop’s signal into sound. Hearing Loops require compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants.
- In 2020, Halifax Stanfield became the first facility in Nova Scotia to achieve the Gold Accessibility Rating from the Rick Hansen Foundation.
- Additional Halifax Stanfield accessibility programs and services include: pre-arranged curbside assistance, the Autism Aviators program, the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program, braille signage, barrier-free washrooms, familiarization tours, and many automatic doors.
For more information about the Sunflower Program, Aira App, Hearing Loops, and other Halifax Stanfield accessibility programs and services, visit Halifax Stanfield’s Accessibility webpage.
About Halifax Stanfield
Halifax Stanfield is Atlantic Canada’s principal full-service airport providing passengers and cargo clients with direct access to markets across Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean Basin, Europe, and Asia. Halifax Stanfield offers Canada Customs services on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis and is the only airport in Atlantic Canada with U.S. preclearance and International to Domestic processing facilities. The airport is a significant economic generator, contributing $3.4 billion annually to the provincial economy. In 2023, Halifax Stanfield served 3.6 million passengers and processed over 39,000 metric tonnes of cargo. A recognized innovator in the global airport industry, Halifax Stanfield was the first airport in North America to offer a self service baggage drop system for all passengers and is consistently ranked among the best airports in the world.