United Airlines announced on Thursday that it will introduce Braille signage in its aircraft cabins, a move that will enhance accessibility for passengers who are blind or have significant vision impairment. This initiative makes United the first U.S. airline to implement fleet-wide Braille signage.
The airline will install placards with raised lettering and Braille to label aisles, rows, and seats. These labels will also be added to the interiors and exteriors of lavatories. The Braille signage will be added to United's mainline aircraft as they undergo the "United Next" cabin retrofitting process. For aircraft that have already undergone the United Next installation, the Braille signs will be added during regular maintenance downtime.
Currently, about a dozen planes have the Braille signs, with the full mainline fleet expected to have the signs by 2026. The airline is also working towards implementing these changes on regional jets operated by smaller airlines under the United Express brand.
While some individual aircraft or fleet types in the U.S. currently have Braille in some areas, such as in the lavatories, no U.S. carrier currently has this feature universally throughout its fleet. This initiative is part of United's ongoing commitment to making air travel more accessible for all passengers.
