Emirates Airlines is preparing to become the first approved air carrier in the world for people with autism

Emirates Airlines has begun an exceptional journey to become the first air carrier in the world to obtain official accreditation as the first “certified air carrier for people with autism,” with the aim of providing a smooth travel experience and personalized hospitality for customers with autism and sensory disorders, which makes travel more inclusive for everyone.

The carrier stated in a statement yesterday that this accreditation is scheduled to be officially granted by the International Board for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) during the coming months, as more than 30,000 Emirates crew members will complete initial training. The carrier also plans to launch new standards and services to improve the travel experience for customers on the autism spectrum and their families, which will be announced later this year.

Easy travel for everyone

Emirates Airlines stated in a statement that international air travel, for many members of the global autism community, is considered a very difficult experience, or something that should be avoided completely, due to the high level of sensory stimuli that it can involve, pointing to an opinion poll on the website. AutismTravel.com showed that 78% of families are reluctant to travel or visit new places, and that 94% of survey respondents would take more vacations if they had access to places with autism-trained and certified staff.

Emirates Airlines confirmed that, as part of its mission to make travel more inclusive and easier for everyone, this step also supports Dubai’s ambition to become a leading destination for travelers of different needs in the world.

Comprehensive review

The carrier pointed out that, based on its commitment to creating a welcoming travel experience for all customers, including individuals with autism and those with sensory disorders, Emirates Airlines has arranged a comprehensive on-site review and comprehensive audit in cooperation with the International Council for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards, the leading organization in the field of training. And certificates for autism and neurodiversity.

She added that, as part of broad research efforts, the International Council for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards conducted a survey that included more than 14,000 people with various disabilities, including individuals with autism and sensory disorders, in addition to their families and caregivers. Data from this survey was collected along with multiple interviews, an airline industry survey by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the opinions of 1,200 industry professionals, and this input contributed to the development of standards that are useful to passengers and airline crew. Experts from the International Council for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards also conducted audits of several Emirates Airlines flights on long- and short-haul routes.

The detailed data was compiled by gathering input from key stakeholders, including the experiences of passengers with autism, global thought leaders, industry professionals and health experts, with the aim of setting new standards for the airline industry to meet the needs of passengers with autism and sensory disorders.

New plan

Using a data-driven approach, Emirates Airlines collaborated with the International Council for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards to develop a new plan that covers the entire journey, from ground services to air services, making Emirates the leader in applying these standards in the aviation industry. The comprehensive accreditation process includes ensuring that at least 80% of customer-facing employees complete customized training, along with a commitment to continuous training and improvements.

Crew training

Emirates Airlines revealed that, as part of this initiative, the carrier’s employees, including ground service crews and cabin crews, will undergo new training focused on autism and sensory disorders, with the aim of providing them with the understanding and skills necessary to meet the needs of travelers with autism or sensory disorders, and their families.

The training includes introducing Emirates Airlines teams to the autism spectrum, the challenges individuals face, and various support methods that depend on individual customer needs, in addition to potential triggers, which employees must be aware of. The new training is based on the foundations laid by the Emirates Airlines training: “Introduction to Autism and Hidden Disabilities,” which 23,000 employees completed in 2023.

Standards and services

Emirates Airlines revealed that throughout the year 2025 and beyond, it will provide new standards and services for customers with autism and sensory disorders, to ensure more comfortable and easier travel. These services include “sensory cues”, which are digital tools developed by Emirates Airlines, as part of the review process in cooperation with the International Board for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards, to enable travelers to make informed decisions about the different environments they encounter, to plan what suits their needs.

She explained that the evidence was created by conducting comprehensive facility audits at all of its facilities in Dubai and the aviation experience, and measuring sensory inputs in public areas such as sound levels, lighting, views and potential smells.

According to Emirates Airlines, the year 2025 is expected to witness another development, which is the provision of sensory products to customers on board Emirates Airlines flights, which include sensory toys or aids that can encourage concentration, help reduce self-stimulatory behavior and relieve stress.

Autism friendly center

In April 2024, Emirates Airlines obtained the official accreditation certificate as an autism-friendly center from the International Council for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards for all four of its check-in facilities in Dubai, including its designated center in Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport. International.

In December 2023, Dubai International became the first international airport to obtain the “Autism Friendly Environment Certificate (CAC), at a time when the framework for continuing to advance the facilitated travel agenda will enable the new training program for Emirates Airlines, in addition to the new standards and protocols that To be implemented in phases in 2025 and beyond, neurodiverse customers can travel more comfortably.

Emirates Airlines confirmed that these achievements are in line with the vision of the Department of Economy and Tourism for Dubai to become the first approved destination for autism in the Eastern Hemisphere. Through close cooperation, Emirates Airlines, the Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Airports Corporation, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai Police, and Dubai Customs are working to achieve significant progress in the field of inclusive travel available to all.

30,000 Emirates Airlines crew members will complete initial training in the coming months.

The International Council for Accreditation and Continuing Education Standards will grant accreditation to the carrier in the coming months.