Emirates expands global travel rehearsal program to Great Britain | News
Emirates, the world’s first autism-certified airline, has launched its ‘Travel Rehearsal’ program in Britain, with the first session in the country being held at London Stansted Airport (STN).
The Travel Rehearsal program allows people with accessible travel needs to experience a guided simulation of the entire air journey, familiarizing them with airport procedures and the onboard environment in advance – reducing anxiety and building confidence before an actual flight.
In partnership with Hertfordshire-based special needs school, St Elizabeth’s Centre, several students with autism and their families experienced the Emirates journey at Stansted, from check-in to the departure gate. Supported by airport and airline staff, students and their families navigated through check-in, security and the departure lounge. They also learned about immigration, baggage collection and meetings.
As part of Emirates’ ‘Accessible Travel for All’ approach, the Travel Rehearsal program aims to make air travel more predictable and comfortable for people with autism.
Jabr Al-Azeeby, Emirates Divisional Vice President in Britain, said: “As the world’s first Autism Certified Airline, we are proud to bring our travel rehearsal program to Britain, starting with the first session here in London. This global program aims to break down some of the invisible barriers that people with neurodivergence can face when traveling, boosting their confidence and opening up the world for more people to explore. I want the Emirates Airport Services team at Stansted for their role in delivering this initiative, in collaboration with our partners, to make air travel more inclusive.”
Lisa Tooley, headteacher at St Elizabeth’s Centre, added: “Airports can be an overwhelming and stressful environment for people with disabilities, accessibility requirements and their families. Experiences like these are incredibly important for those who may otherwise feel unable to travel. We are very grateful to Emirates and Stansted Airport for hosting this valuable and stimulating experience.”
Stephanie Putt, London Stansted Airport Accessibility Manager, commented: “It has been fantastic to work with Emirates on this excellent initiative, and we are so grateful to St Elizabeth’s school for their fantastic support. This project will help the airport to remove travel barriers, not just for Emirates customers, but for everyone who relies on escorted travel. By learning from this trial in a live airport environment, we can continue to strengthen accessibility and make the journey smoother and more welcoming for all passengers.”
Accessible travel for everyone
Emirates became the world’s first autism-certified airline after more than 35,000 cabin crew and ground staff underwent specialist autism awareness training. The program provides employees with in-depth knowledge of the autism spectrum, common misconceptions, challenges they face while traveling, and personalized support strategies tailored to passengers’ individual needs.
Since April 2025, Emirates’ Airport Services teams have come together to host 40 of these travel rehearsals at airports including Accra, Athens, Bali, Barcelona, Bologna, Brussels, Christchurch, Da Nang, Delhi, Dubai, Dublin, Durban, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guangzhou, Harare, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Mauritius, Milan, Newcastle, Nice, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Peshawar, Port Luis, Rome, Stansted, Stockholm, Sydney, Venice, Vienna and Warsaw.
