Following the success of its initial ‘travel rehearsal’ event for children with autism last year, Emirates is now expanding the initiative to 17 cities worldwide reportedly.
This programme gives autistic children the opportunity to simulate the airport experience, helping them become familiar with the journey ahead of actual flights. Cities where the rehearsals are being introduced include Barcelona, Brisbane, Budapest, Cebu, Christchurch, Dubai, Durban, Luanda, Madrid, Manila, Mauritius, Manchester, Montreal, Nice, Oslo, Paris, and Toronto, with additional locations set to join over time.
The travel rehearsals are carried out in collaboration with airports, local authorities, accredited centres, and foundations. The programme is offered by invitation only through partner centres and is not a service that can be booked independently. Parents, therapists, and teachers actively participate to support the children during these sessions.
The idea behind the Travel Rehearsal initiative originated in 2023 through a community effort involving Emirates, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Airports, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai Police, Dubai Customs, and several autism support schools and centres in Dubai. Feedback from these organizations played a crucial role in shaping the programme.
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Air travel can be overwhelming for individuals with autism due to the intense sensory environment at airports and on planes. According to a survey by AutismTravel.com, 78% of families with autistic members feel hesitant about traveling, and 94% said they would take more trips if they had access to facilities where staff are trained and certified in autism support.
In a significant achievement, Emirates has also become the world’s first Autism Certified Airline™, with over 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff trained to assist passengers with autism.
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