Inclusive airports, seamless journeys: a Humanics Collective perspective

In the dynamic environment of modern air travel, inclusive design has emerged as a cornerstone for enhancing the passenger experience. Moving beyond traditional notions of accessibility, which often focus solely on individuals with disabilities, inclusive design embraces the diverse needs of all travellers—be it parents with prams, individuals with heavy luggage, elderly passengers, or those with temporary injuries. By considering the full spectrum of human diversity, airports can create environments that are not only functional but also welcoming and intuitive for everyone.

Rethinking accessibility: embracing inclusive design

Historically, accessibility in airports has been associated with compliance measures aimed at assisting passengers with disabilities. While these measures are crucial, they represent just one facet of a broader approach known as inclusive design. This philosophy advocates for environments that accommodate a wide range of abilities and circumstances, recognising that everyone benefits from thoughtful, user-centric design.

For instance, features like ramps, elevators, and clear signage not only assist wheelchair users but also aid travellers with strollers, heavy bags, or mobility challenges. By integrating such elements seamlessly into the airport infrastructure, designers can ensure that spaces are navigable and comfortable for all (passengerterminaltoday.com).

Inclusive design also includes technology that is usable by a wide range of people. Airports host a diverse mix of travellers—from tech-savvy youth to older passengers who may find digital tools challenging. Designing check-in kiosks, mobile apps, and digital signage that are intuitive and accessible ensures that every traveller can engage confidently with the technology they encounter.

The role of environmental psychology

Environmental psychology provides the scientific foundation for understanding how people experience, interpret, and behave within built environments—especially under pressure. At airports, where stress levels are high and navigation can be complex, this insight is essential. It helps us anticipate how different types of users will respond to cues in their environment, and how those environments can be intentionally shaped to support calm, clarity, and confidence.

This is particularly important in high-stress areas like security screening or customs, where passengers are often rushed, anxious, or confused. These moments demand more than functional design. They call for careful orchestration. By combining environmental psychology with wayfinding, user experience, accessibility, and behavioural insight, we can design these zones to feel predictable and respectful, while guiding movement and interaction in purposeful ways.

While strategic use of colour, lighting, materials, and layout helps guide people through the terminal, it’s the underlying psychological understanding that ensures those elements are intuitive and effective. Environmental psychology connects these layers—bringing together signage, space, behaviour, and emotional response—so that people feel supported, not just directed.

Inclusive design in practice: global examples

One of the most progressive examples of inclusive design in practice is found at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Their three-year Accessibility Plan, Beyond Accessibility, reflects a commitment that goes well beyond regulatory compliance. Rather than treating accessibility as a checklist for people with disabilities, YVR has embedded inclusive design into the very fabric of how the airport functions.

This includes physical improvements such as tactile floor markings, quiet rooms, and assistive listening devices, but also programmatic elements like travel rehearsal sessions, community consultation, and pilot initiatives such as autonomous mobility pods. Their approach acknowledges that inclusive design isn’t just about disability—it’s about ensuring a diverse mix of passengers, from tech-savvy travellers to those less confident with digital tools, from neurodivergent users to families with young children, can all move through the airport with confidence and dignity.

By focusing on universal usability, anticipating a wide range of needs, and integrating these elements into everyday passenger experience, YVR sets a benchmark for what it means to create an airport that works for everyone.

Towards a cohesive approach: integrating services and design

Achieving true inclusivity in airports requires a holistic approach that combines architectural design, technological innovation, and service delivery. Collaboration among architects, engineers, behavioural scientists, and user experience experts is essential to create environments that are not only accessible but also intuitive and welcoming.

By embedding inclusive design principles from the project's inception, airports can avoid costly retrofits and ensure that facilities meet the diverse needs of all passengers. This proactive strategy fosters a travel experience that is seamless, dignified, and enjoyable for everyone.

Conclusion

Inclusive design transcends the traditional boundaries of accessibility, offering a comprehensive framework for creating airport environments that cater to the full spectrum of human diversity. By integrating insights from environmental psychology and prioritising intuitive wayfinding, airports can transform into spaces that not only facilitate movement but also enhance the overall passenger experience.

At Humanics Collective, our combination of services—spanning user experience strategy, wayfinding, accessibility, environmental psychology, and behavioural design—ensures that inclusive design is not an afterthought but a foundation. By approaching airport projects through these interconnected lenses, we help create environments that anticipate real needs, support real behaviours, and deliver a coherent, human-centred experience from arrival to departure. Embracing this cohesive approach ensures that air travel is not just a means of transportation but a journey that respects and accommodates the needs of all individuals.