Emirates has completed its "Travel Rehearsal" accessibility programme at every UK airport it serves, the airline said in a statement, marking the expansion of an initiative designed to help passengers with additional needs prepare for air travel.

The programme, which offers guided simulations of the full journey through an airport, has now been delivered at London Stansted, Heathrow, and Gatwick, as well as Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, according to Emirates.

More than 90 participants have taken part in the UK sessions so far, organised in partnership with special needs schools and Additional Support Needs groups across the country, the airline said. With the help of airport and airline staff, participants were walked through check-in, security and the departure lounge, and also experienced a simulated arrivals process, including immigration, baggage collection and meet-and-greet.

Jabr Al-Azeeby, Emirates' divisional vice president for the UK, said the airline was proud to have brought the programme to every UK gateway it flies to, from Scotland to London. He said the initiative was aimed at removing "invisible barriers" that passengers with accessibility requirements can face while travelling, crediting Emirates' airport services teams for organising the sessions and citing positive feedback from participating families.

Emirates holds Autism Certified Airline status, a designation it says required more than 35,000 of its cabin crew and ground staff to complete specialised autism awareness training covering the autism spectrum, common misconceptions and personalised support strategies.

Since April 2025, the airline has run more than 40 Travel Rehearsal sessions for over 250 families at airports including Dubai, London, Paris, Sydney, Toronto, Delhi, Cairo and Istanbul, among others, Emirates said.

Source: PR