Emirates takes a groundbreaking step towards ‘autism-friendly’ travel in Istanbul | News
Emirates, the world’s first autism-certified airline, brought its vision of accessible travel to Istanbul through its ‘Travel Rehearsal’ programme, hosting autistic children and their families at Istanbul Airport (IGA). The initiative, which is being gradually rolled out across 17 airports across Emirates’ global network, will enable participants with disabilities to experience every stage of the travel journey in a supportive and structured environment.
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. By familiarizing families with airport procedures and the onboard environment in advance, the program helps reduce anxiety and build confidence before an actual flight.
Mehmet Gurkaynak, Emirates County Manager Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria, said: “Last year, Emirates became the world’s first Autism Certified Airline, demonstrating the airline’s long-term commitment to accessible travel. Thanks to the efforts of the Emirates Autism Center and our partners at IGA, we are proud to have brought this initiative to Istanbul and are playing an active role in improving the travel experience for people with accessible travel needs.
“We thank our partners for their contribution to this initiative, including IGA. This milestone reflects the importance of working with like-minded stakeholders to ensure an inclusive travel industry for all.”
A global journey of inclusive travel in Istanbul
During the Istanbul experience, participants went through the entire travel process: from airport transfers and check-in to passport control, lounge access and a plane tour. The experience demonstrated how an Emirates journey runs smoothly and safely, from ground services to onboard, while promoting trust between trained Emirates teams and passengers with disabilities.
Emirates became the world’s first autism-certified airline after more than 30,000 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.
To date, Emirates has run its travel rehearsal program in Dubai, Barcelona, Brussels, Budapest, Christchurch, Durban, Istanbul, Luanda, Madrid, Nice, Oslo, Paris and Venice, with more destinations joining the program every month.
Visit www.emirates.com for more information
