WHILL and Envoy Air Announce First Commercial Deployments of Autonomous Mobility Services at Major U.S. Airports
Autonomous Chairs Now Taking American Airlines Customers to Gates at LAX and MIA
Orlando, FL – March 27, 2024 – WHILL, Inc., a pioneering developer of electric mobilitydevices, announced the first commercial installations of its autonomous mobility servicein the United States within American Airlines terminals at Los Angeles InternationalAirport (LAX) and Miami International Airport (MIA).
One of the most common challenges affecting airports and airlines today is providingquality service to passengers with reduced mobility. These travelers are the fastest-growing demographic in the airline industry and airports must adapt to meet their needs.Recent trends include more wheelchair pushes, longer wait times, and an increasednumber of staff injuries. With the global population aging and projected to reach 2.1billion people over 60 by 2050 (Source: WHO), WHILL’s autonomous mobility servicewill improve accessibility for customers around the world.
“We are thrilled to bring cutting-edge technology and innovation to two of American’sbusiest hubs,” said Shane Bogni, Vice President of Business Development at WHILLMobility Services, North America. “Our autonomous mobility services offer customersincreased independence, reduced wait times, and an enhanced customer experience.”
WHILL and Envoy Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, havebeen collaborating since late 2022 at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Los AngelesInternational Airport (LAX). The thorough testing of the service has resulted in excellentperformance and positive customer feedback. Once a user selects their destination on atouch screen, the WHILL autonomous power chair takes over, safely and reliablytransporting the customer to their desired gate.
“The Envoy team at MIA supports thousands of customer service requests every day,and we’re thrilled to partner with WHILL to pioneer the introduction of this autonomousmobility service in the U.S.,” said Migdoel Rosa, Envoy Vice President of MIA Hub.
“Ensuring accessibility and safety for our customers are top priorities for our team,”added Deesha Desai, Envoy Vice President of LAX Hub and Western Region. “Ourteam and WHILL are committed to listening to customers and addressing their needs,which will result in an improved experience for individuals with accessibility challenges.”
For more information about WHILL’s autonomous mobility service, visithttps://whill.inc/us/mobility-service/how-it-works/autonomous-drive. Hi-res images of theautonomous power chairs can be found here.
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About WHILL, Inc.
WHILL has given consumers worldwide a way to experience new ways to move and dothe activities they love. Our innovative design combines state-of-the-art technology withan approachable and pleasing aesthetic, providing users with increased confidence andindependence. In addition to our fleet of mobility devices, WHILL connects the worldthrough its autonomous and on-site fleet mobility services by making public spaces likeairports, hospitals, and convention centers more accessible. https://whill.inc
About Envoy Air
Envoy Air Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, operates morethan 130 Embraer aircraft on 700 daily flights to over 160 destinations throughout theUnited States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Caribbean. More than 20,000 Envoyemployees operate regional flights for American Airlines under the American Eaglebrand and provide ground handling services for many American Airlines and AmericanEagle branded flights at more than 115 airport locations across North America and theCaribbean. The company was founded in 1998 as American Eagle Airlines, Inc.,following the merger of several smaller regional carriers to create one of the largestregional airlines in the world. Envoy is headquartered in Irving, Texas, with hubs inDallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Miami, with a large ground handling operation in LosAngeles. Connect with Envoy @EnvoyAirCareers on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X.
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Media Contact:Lauren Clark, lclark@percepture.com
