Emirates to become world’s first autism-certified airline
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The airline has set a new standard for travellers with autism and sensory sensitivities. Emirates will soon be named the world’s first “autism-certified airline” due to its efforts to help neurodiverse customers fly more comfortably. International air travel can be a challenging experience for many autistic people and those with sensory sensitivities.
Emirates’ ground and in-flight services will now serve passengers with accessibility requirements to a new standard for the aviation industry. The inaugural autism certification will be awarded to the airline by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) in the next few months.
By then, over 30,000 Emirates cabin crew and ground staff will have completed the initial training to address the needs of travellers with autism and sensory sensitivities while flying. At least 80 per cent of “customer-facing staff” will complete the dedicated autism and sensory-awareness training as part of the certification process.
The training includes information on the spectrum of autism, misconceptions and potential stimuli and triggers that staff should be aware of. Emirates worked with IBCCES, a leading organisation in autism and neurodiversity training and certification, alongside an International Air Transport Association (IATA) industry survey to develop the “most beneficial standards” for autistic passengers.
