Saudia steps up services for the visually impaired
- Written by George Sensalis
Saudia Airlines announced the introduction of new services tailored around the needs of visually impaired passengers.
The flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia operates a fleet of 165 aircraft to 126 domestic and international destinations. Saudia joined the SkyTeam alliance in 2012.
Effective immediately, safety cards, menus, and the monthly magazine are available in Braille. The airline’s PR Vice President Abdul Rahman Al-Fahad said services now offered by Saudia ensure passengers with visual impairments will travel with greater peace of mind.
Saudia also offer a special meal for blind passengers. All food is pre-cut and served as bite size chunks. The composition of the meal and its position on the tray is described in the Braille Menu.
The special meal is available on request and should be booked via reservation services at least 48 hours before the flight departure 
time.
Blind passengers may also request to receive an individual safety briefing of all safety issues. The individual briefing includes an explanation of where and when to exit the aircraft, and illustrates all on-board services available to passengers with disabilities.
Due to safety regulations, visually impaired passengers traveling alone may not book seats on the upper deck of Saudia’s Boeing 747 planes.
Passengers with special needs traveling with Saudia Airlines may contact the special needs counter free of charge via email at specialneed@saudiairlines.com.sa
