UAE flag carrier Emirates has made moves to become the world’s first officially Autism Certified Airline™. The plan involves special training for over 30,000 Emirates cabin crew and ground staff over the coming months, as well as the introduction of new standards and services to “improve the on ground and inflight travel experience for both customers on the autism spectrum and their families and companions,” the airline said in a press release.
78% of autism community hesitant to travel
For many members of the global autism community, international air travel is a highly challenging experience, the airline notes, if not something to be avoided completely, due to the high level of sensory stimuli that can be involved. A survey on AutismTravel.com reveals that 78% of families are hesitant to travel or visit new locations and that 94% of respondents would take more vacations if they had access to places where staff are autism-trained and certified.
To address these concerns and make travel more accessible for all, Emirates has worked collaboratively with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), a leading organization in autism and neurodiversity training and certification, to conduct an onsite review and comprehensive audit, including IBCCES experts experiencing both long and short-haul routes.
Emirates are going to become the world's FIRST autism-certified airline!🛫#lovindubai pic.twitter.com/zyLlJ3kHc3
— Lovin Dubai | لوڤن دبي (@lovindubai) January 12, 2025
Sensory guides
The work also included a survey of over 14,000 people with a variety of disabilities, including “people with autism, those with sensory sensitivities and their families and caregivers”. Numerous interviews were also carried out, as well as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) industry survey, and feedback from 1,200 industry professionals.
As a result, Emirates claims it is helping to develop the most beneficial standards for both passengers and airline staff. As well as eventually training at least 80% of its workforce and creating a blueprint for serving people with additional needs, the airline has introduced what it calls ‘sensory guides’ – digital aids to empower travellers to make informed decisions about navigating the various environments they encounter when taking a plane, from the ground up.
Dubai Airport – a certified autism centre
The drive towards certification follows an award in December 2023 for Dubai Airport, which was celebrated as the first international airport to receive the Certified Autism Centre™ Designation, enabling neurodiverse customers to fly more comfortably.
What’s more, for passengers affected by any of these issues, and their loved ones, IBCCES has created AutismTravel.com, a free online resource for families that lists certified destinations and connects families to other resources and each other.