In recognition of its commitment to “prioritizing and ensuring an accessible, safe, and inclusive traveling experience for passengers with disabilities,” Miami International Airport has been accredited by the Airports Council International (ACI) Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA) program.
MIA is the first airport in Florida and the second in the United States to be accredited by the program, which was created by ACI in September 2022 based on existing international best practices and recommendations, including those in the ACI Airport and Persons with Disability Handbook. The AEA program also received input from global airport members, industry partners, and accessibility advocacy groups.
MIA earned the three-year accreditation by completing a detailed questionnaire developed with the support of the ACI Accessibility Advisory Group, which includes representatives from member airports, training providers, consultants, and accessibility organizations. Independent subject matter experts then performed an online validation interview with MIA representatives to evaluate the questionnaire.
Within the last 10 years, MIA’s MyMIAccess program has launched a diverse menu of accessibility services, such as: the MIAair tour program, which allows passengers with disabilities the opportunity to practice the travel experience in a safe and controlled environment; accessibility lanes in its U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) areas; wheelchair charging stations at 10 convenient locations; sunflower lanyards free of charge to travelers with hidden disabilities; multi-sensory rooms in its North and South terminals, where young passengers with cognitive and developmental disabilities can find a calming place to relax during the travel experience; the Aira Airport Network, a free mobile service that allows blind or low-vision travelers to receive navigation assistance at MIA; and seven service animal relief areas with indoor and outdoor locations.
The ACI accreditation is the latest in a series of accolades MIA has received for its accessibility services. In July 2022, MIA received the Civil Rights Advocate and Partner Award from the Federal Aviation Administration, which honors ADA coordinators and airport sponsors who have demonstrated excellence in meeting the letter and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. MIA also won the 2021 Airport Accessibility Award during the 6th Annual Airport Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM) Leadership Conference, after earning 50 percent of the votes from the virtual conference’s 159 attendees from 42 countries around the world.
ACI, the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association, and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. ACI currently serves 712 members operating 1,925 airports in 171 countries.