Exeter Airport has launched an interactive online tour in a bid to become more "accessible".
The immersive experience allows users to navigate the airport, from car parking, check-in and security to departure lounges and gates.
The tour was created by Sidmouth-based The Virtual Tour Experts. The company was selected to be part of a six-month programme designed to trial disruptive new innovations in the aviation sector, funded and delivered by the Ƶ‘s government-backed Connected Places Catapult.
The firm's showcase project was a virtual tour of Exeter Airport's terminal facilities.
Stephen Witshire, managing director of Exeter Airport, said: “This project underlines our commitment to making Exeter one of the Ƶ’s most accessible and welcoming regional airports, and is designed to make travel easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
"We’re proud to provide passengers with tools that not only ease anxiety but also make planning their journey simple, enjoyable and inclusive.”
Neil Henderson, managing director of The Virtual Tour Experts, added: “Being selected for the Future of Air Mobility Accelerator was a huge endorsement of our mission to make travel more accessible.
"We chose Exeter Airport because it is a progressive regional hub that shares our values of inclusivity and innovation. This project shows how airports of all sizes can harness immersive technology to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and create a more welcoming journey for every passenger.”
The project is believed to be the first aviation virtual tour to incorporate British Sign Language alongside sensory-aware features such as ambient soundscapes to reduce travel anxiety and da-/night modes to mimic different travel conditions for neurodiverse travellers.
The virtual tour took a year to make and was developed in conjunction with Exeter Airport’s Passengers with Reduced Mobility Consultative Committee.
An “autopilot” function provides step-by-step guidance from the entrance to the gate in a bid to improve wayfinding and reduce the need for assistance, the airport said.
The tour also integrates opportunities to book parking, browse duty-free offers and access executive lounges.
