Emirates hosted its first “Travel Rehearsal” programme in Denpasar, aimed at making air travel more predictable and comfortable for individuals with accessible travel requirements.

As part of Emirates’ “Accessible Travel for All” approach, the Travel Rehearsal was first launched in the airline’s hub, Dubai, in 2024 with 30 families to reinforce Emirates’ commitment to making air travel more accessible and inclusive for all passengers.

Since then, it has been brought to more cities worldwide, including Barcelona, Brisbane, Dubai, Manila, Madrid, Toronto, and now to Denpasar.

 To better understand autism, sensory sensitivities, and appropriate support mechanisms, more than 30,000 Emirates cabin crew and ground staff have undergone specialised training.

Bringing inclusive travel to life in Denpasar

On February 18, the Travel Rehearsal welcomed 17 participants at the Denpasar International Airport (DPS) - eight children with autism along with guardians including teachers and a parent - who were invited to experience a guided simulation of the complete air travel journey.

The session was designed to help neurodiverse children familiarise themselves with the travel process and reduce anxiety associated with sensory-rich airport environments.

Participants were guided through each stage of the journey, including arrival at the International Drop Zone, check-in procedures, security screening, immigration, boarding, cabin seating and inflight experience, disembarkation, arrival immigration, baggage claim, customs clearance, and the final pick-up area.

By experiencing these steps in advance, the children and their families gain confidence and reassurance before embarking on actual travel journeys.

Majid Al Falasi, Emirates County Manager Indonesia, said:“Last year, Emirates became the world’s first Autism Certified Airline, demonstrating the airline's long-term commitment to accessible travel. Through the efforts of Emirates’ Autism Centre and their partners, we were fortunate enough to bring this travel rehearsal to Denpasar and play an active role in enhancing the travel experience for people with accessible travel requirements.

Al Falasi added: “We thank our partners for contributing to this initiative including PT JAS Airport Services (GHA), PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, Immigration Authorities, Quarantine and Customs officials and CAA – Airport Authority Region IV. This milestone not only reflects Bali’s importance as a global destination, but also Emirates’ commitment to inclusive travel across its network.” -TradeArabia News Service