Accessibility
Sault Ste. Marie Airport's Accessibility Survey: Shaping a More Inclusive Airport Experience

At YAM, our dedication to accessibility extends beyond compliance, it is about creating a truly welcoming and inclusive environment for all travellers.

As we strive to enhance our services and facilities and develop our Accessibility Plan, we’re introducing our new online accessibility survey, designed to gather feedback from individuals with disabilities based on their experiences at YAM.

The survey is open to travellers of all abilities at YAM. Please take this opportunity to share the survey with your networks and community members using the link below:

 

ACCESSIBILITY SURVEY
Plan Ahead

Are you a passenger with a disability or are you travelling with someone with a disability? The Sault Ste. Marie Airport provides a variety of accessible services and facilities designed to enable more choice and greater independence as you travel through the airport.

As a terminal operator, The Sault Ste. Marie Airport is subject to the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations. The safety of our passengers, employees and communities that we serve is our top priority.

The Sault Ste. Marie Airport, with the help of our airline partners and agencies, wants to ensure that your travels are trouble-free, and accessible to everyone. To ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable trip, we recommend that you notify the airline that you will be flying with of your needs 48 hours in advance of your flight. Please visit our Airlines page for contact information.

For additional information on available assistance at the terminal you may call the airport directly at 1-705-779-3031.

 

Accessible Washrooms

All washrooms at the Sault Ste. Marie Airport have a wheelchair accessible toilet. A “barrier free” washroom is located beside the arrivals Gate 3 in the main terminal area, two other barrier free washrooms are located in the hold room area past CATSA security.

 

Accessible Ground Transportation

There are a number of accessible ground transportation providers in Sault Ste. Marie, including taxis, shuttle services, and rental car providers. The Sault Ste. Marie Airport strongly suggests prearranging your trip to and/or from the Airport with the service provider of your choice. For more information on our ground transportation options, please visit our Ground Transportation page.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie Parabus offers specialized, curb-to-curb public transit service for persons with physical disabilities. You may be eligible to ride the Parabus if you use a mobility device/aid, receive hemodialysis treatments, or are unable to walk 175 meters. A fee of $15 both ways applies. Please visit the City of Sault  Ste. Marie Parabus Transit webpage for more information.

Airline Assistance

Wheelchair and mobility assistance is provided by your airline and should be prearranged with the airline directly at least 48 hours prior to travel. Airline representatives will be able to provide you with information on transportation throughout the terminal, wheelchair use, arranging passenger escort services, and assist with the check-in and boarding process throughout your travels. Self-service wheelchairs are also available for use.

 

Barrier Free Curbside and Entrance-ways

Pull right up to the terminal to drop off or pick-up. An edge-less curbside and exterior doors that automatically open allows for easy transitions in and out of the terminal building.

 

Barrier Free Check-in and Waiting Areas

Maneuver through the terminal with ease. Large, open concept check-in and waiting areas allow for you to quickly get to where you need to go.

 

Curbside Assistance

Curbside assistance is provided to passengers upon request. We recommend presenting at the airline counter within the comfort of the terminal building for passengers who can do so.

For passengers requiring assistance from the curbside to the airline counter, please contact Airport Security at 705-779-3031 ext. 206. While not necessary, we recommend calling at least 48 hours in advance of your trip. A representative will meet you at a designated accessible parking space either curbside or in our parking lots and assist you to the airline counter.

Assistance from the curbside to the airline counter is available approximately two (2) hours prior to your flight’s departure.

Passenger Screening Options

To assist every passenger in ensuring a flight is safe and secure CATSA employees can provide you with different options to complete pre-board screening. Whether you have a mobility device or would like additional communication assistance they’re able to help. Temporary Restricted Area Passes can be arranged should you be helping someone who requires assistance.

For more details, click here to read CATSA’s special needs guide.

Recent renovations included a fully accessible private screening area for your convenience.

Mobile Flight Notifications

If you’re travelling with Air Canada, please visit their flight notifications page to learn more about how you can enable mobile notifications directly from Air Canada. To opt-in to Porter’s flight status notification text messaging Service, provide your mobile phone number during booking or online check-in with Porter. This way you will be registered to receive SMS flight notifications for all the flights on that reservation. You can later opt out at any time.

If you’re travelling with another airline, we recommend you contact the airline for more information about their mobile flight notification services.

Accessibility Around the Airport

Other in-terminal features to ensure ease of travel for all passengers include:

  • Accessible way finding signage, including braille
  • Audible and visible announcements
  • Audible and visible fire notification system
  • Trained staff
  • Teletypewriter (TTY) public telephone located at the bell telephones across from the arrivals entrance
  • Universal exit signage
  • Wheelchair accessible aircraft boarding ramps
Accessible Parking

Located at the departures entrance to the terminal is a designated accessible pick-up/drop-off stall for use when dropping off or picking up passengers. Accessible certificate must be displayed.

Located immediately across from the terminal, in the Short-Term and Long-Term Parking Lots, are six (6) accessible identified parking stalls for all visitors and passengers. Parking rates apply and accessible certificate must be displayed. A no barrier walkway provides easy access between these stalls and the terminal.

Service Animal Relief

Service and therapy animals are permitted in the terminal to assist your travels. We ask that they be leashed when possible. Relief areas for animals are available groundside, prior to going through screening.

If you are travelling with a service animal, please notify your airline 48 hours prior to travel.  For more information visit Transport Canada’s service animal resource guide for carriers and travelers

Sault Airport Service Animal Relief
Additional Information

The Sault Ste. Marie Airport works to assist everyone. For additional information about accessibility in the terminal or parking facilities you can contact us at 1-705-779-3031 ext. 204.