Munich: Innovative wheelchairs pave the way for barrier-free travel!

Munich: Innovative wheelchairs pave the way for barrier-free travel!

In Munich, where the journey begins for many passengers, an innovative pilot project will be launched from August 2025. Munich Airport and Lufthansa have given the starting signal for testing two autonomous wheelchairs from the manufacturer WHILL. The aim is to improve the service for departing passengers with limited mobility while integrating smart technologies. It will start in the satellite building of Terminal 2 on level 04, before the wheelchair service is further expanded in the main building of Terminal 2 Munich Airport reports.

The concept stipulates that passengers who need support can register for the free mobility service in Terminal 2. This is done in cooperation with Aicher Airport Services, which provides the staff to accompany the passengers to the wheelchair distribution point. There, travelers can choose their destination on the intuitive display and the wheelchair drives there independently. After use, the vehicle returns autonomously to the starting point. This new service is intended to relieve the burden on passengers' mobility aids and promote their independence.

Detailed overview of autonomous wheelchairs

From a technical point of view, the wheelchairs offer some interesting features: They are equipped with automatic collision avoidance and reach a maximum speed of 3.5 km/h. They have a battery life of around seven hours and can carry up to ten kilograms of luggage. They are also equipped with a seat belt and an emergency button, which further increases the safety of the users aerotelegraph.com highlights.

In the long term, the project aims to use the wheelchairs completely autonomously. This shows how much focus is on the needs of travelers with limited mobility and that increases in efficiency should not come at the expense of service quality.

Important information for passengers

To use the wheelchair service, travelers must register with Lufthansa in advance. Passengers should note that advance registration is necessary to ensure that waiting times are as short as possible. These experiences can be supplemented by similar regulations at other airports, such as Zurich. There you have to be at the pick-up point 2 hours before departure, and here too there are clear guidelines to minimize waiting times, as below airport-zuerich.ch described.

Overall, the pilot project at Munich Airport shows the desire to offer innovative solutions for all travelers, but also highlights the need for a well-thought-out registration system. In this way, the airport shows that it has a good hand when it comes to integrating new technologies to improve travel comfort.