Emirates holds Travel Rehearsal programme for children with autism at Indonesia’s Denpasar airport

Dubai: Emirates, the world’s first Autism Certified Airline, has launched its “Travel Rehearsal” programme in Denpasar, reinforcing its commitment to accessible and inclusive travel.

First introduced in Dubai in 2024 with 30 families, the initiative forms part of Emirates’ “Accessible Travel for All” strategy. Since then, the programme has expanded to cities including Barcelona, Brisbane, Manila, Madrid, Toronto, and now Denpasar. To better support neurodiverse passengers and those with sensory sensitivities, more than 30,000 Emirates cabin crew and ground staff have completed specialised autism and sensory-awareness training.

At Denpasar International Airport (DPS) in Indonesia, 17 participants, including eight children with autism and their guardians, took part in a guided, end-to-end airport simulation. The rehearsal familiarised families with every stage of the journey, from check-in and security screening to boarding, the inflight experience, arrival procedures, and baggage claim. By experiencing the full process in a structured and supportive environment, participants gained confidence and reassurance ahead of future travel.

Beyond the airport experience, Emirates also promotes greater awareness of neurodiversity through curated content on its award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice. The airline continues to roll out the Travel Rehearsal programme across its global network, helping make air travel more predictable and comfortable for all passengers.

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