William P. Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental airports, as of September, are offering an on-demand American Sign Language interpreting service, Aira ASL, to passengers, according to a Sept. 18 news release from Houston Airports.

The service is free to passengers and is the first of its kind to be offered in Texas, the news release notes.

The overview

Aira ASL is an app that connects users to professional ASL interpreters from a live video feed.

The interpreter, according to the release, can assist travelers with some of the following throughout the airport:

• Check-in counters
• Gates
• Restrooms
• Concessions
• Baggage claim

Quote of note

“Accessibility is not optional. It is a core part of how we serve the public,” Houston Airports Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak said in the news release. “With this launch, we are advancing our passenger experience strategy and setting a new benchmark for inclusive travel.”