Commercial Implementation of WHILL Autonomous Service for Passengers with Reduced Mobility Starts in Europe
Rome Fiumicino Airport is Among the First to Lead the Expansion of Autonomous Mobility Services in Europe
Mar 25, 2025
Rome, Italy, March 25, 2025 – Aeroporti di Roma and WHILL, Inc. have launched autonomous driving chairs designed for passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) at Rome Fiumicino Airport.
The announcement was made during the event ‘Inclusion and Accessibility at the Airport,’ an annual meeting with associations representing people with disabilities, held today at the Innovation Hub of the ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ airport.
Designed to offer travelers greater autonomy and comfort, the new service marks a significant step towards a more accessible and safer airport experience, provided by ADR Assistance, the Aeroporti di Roma Group company that supports passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility.
By simply setting their destination, passengers can rely on the self-driving device to autonomously transport them to their gate. Thanks to smart sensors, the chair avoids obstacles and ensures a comfortable and independent journey. At the end of the route, the chair automatically returns to its starting position.
The new devices are available in the Terminal 3 boarding area, covering routes to 14 gates (E11–E24) and three lounges in the non-Schengen area. The initial phase of the service launches with four devices, with ADR Assistance employees managing operations through a touchscreen interface to set passenger destinations within the airport.
As one of the first airports in Europe to test and adopt WHILL's autonomous service, Rome Fiumicino Airport continues to lead in accessibility innovation. This initiative contributed to Fiumicino Airport being recognized for the 8th consecutive year as the best hub in Europe for quality of services by ACI World. Already in use at major hubs in North America and Japan, WHILL participated in the 'Runway to the Future' program at ADR's Innovation Hub in Terminal 1 of Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Executive Statements:
“We are proud to introduce our service to Europe. WHILL offers personal transportation solutions and Mobility-as-a-Service, improving accessibility in public spaces worldwide. Operating in about 30 countries, we are excited to continue expanding our reach to new locations,” said Satoshi Sugie, co-founder and CEO of WHILL.
"The WHILL self-driving devices represent another step forward in our vision of a more personalized airport experience. This new service actively enhances the accessibility of our infrastructure, making the customer journey smoother for those who need assistance. We remain committed to improving travel accessibility, with innovation as a key driver in our ongoing efforts to rank among the world’s top airports for passenger satisfaction” stated Marina Maschio, Managing Director of ADR Assistance, the Aeroporti di Roma Group company that provides assistance to passengers with reduced mobility.
About WHILL, Inc.
Established in 2012, WHILL provides personal mobility products and services in approximately 30 countries. WHILL enhances accessibility in locations such as airports, hospitals, theme parks, cruise ships, and convention centers. The company's offerings range from electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters to self-driving devices, designed to give users greater mobility and independence through advanced technology.
To learn more, visit https://whill.inc.
To learn more about WHILL Autonomous Service: https://whill.inc/us/mobility-service/how-it-works/autonomous-drive
About Aeroporti di Roma
Aeroporti di Roma is the Mundys Group company that manages and develops the Rome Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. It also carries out other activities related and complementary to airport management. The ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ in Fiumicino is one of two hubs in Europe, and of twelve in the world, with a Skytrax rating of 5 stars for excellent standards in service quality and the best airport in the world for airport security. It has two passenger terminals and is dedicated to business and leisure customers on domestic, international and intercontinental routes. The ‘G.B. Pastine’ in Ciampino is mainly used by low-cost airlines, express-couriers and General Aviation activities. Over the years, ADR has tirelessly worked to build the airport of the future, a sustainable and innovative infrastructure that combines operational efficiency with customer focus and a strategy of enhancing Italy's cultural and artistic heritage in all its forms. In 2024, the year in which the Rome airport system exceeded 50 million passengers in total for the first time, this vision contributed to confirming Fiumicino airport as the best airport in Europe in the category of airports with over 40 million passengers for the seventh consecutive year, alongside, for the first time, Ciampino airport, awarded in the category for airports with 2 to 5 million passengers.