Changi Airport rolls out autonomous wheelchairs for transit passengers

Changi Airport is enhancing its passenger services by deploying autonomous wheelchairs in the transit areas of Terminals 2 and 3. This initiative aims to provide greater independence for transit passengers with reduced mobility, lessening their need for direct, one-to-one staff assistance.

In the first phase, nine autonomous wheelchairs have been introduced in each terminal's transit zone. These technologically advanced wheelchairs are designed to navigate predefined routes, assisting passengers in moving between gates. While they cannot currently travel between terminals, they offer a new option for passengers who need assistance but can still manage short walks.

The service is specifically tailored for transit passengers using airlines handled by SATS, the airport's ground handling partner. Eligibility requires a layover exceeding 90 minutes and the ability to walk short distances. During demonstrations, the wheelchairs exhibited safety features such as slowing down in busy areas, playing music to alert pedestrians, and automatically stopping when encountering obstructions.

This innovation comes as demand for special assistance services at Changi Airport is rising, with requests increasing by 20% between 2023 and 2025. Airlines at Changi handle approximately 2,300 wheelchair assistance requests daily, with a significant majority originating from transfer passengers. The autonomous wheelchairs can carry up to 136kg, travel at a maximum speed of 3.5km/h, and are equipped with safety features like seatbelt monitoring, an emergency stop button, and an assistance call function. They operate on swappable batteries providing up to seven hours of use per charge.