In the cockpit… staff of Emerald Airlines
Belfast City Airport has hosted a special ‘Autism in the Air’ event, offering 17 children with autism and their families the opportunity to experience the full airport journey, including a flight across Belfast.
In partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, the initiative helps children become familiar with the airport environment, making future travel more accessible and stress-free.
Michelle Hatfield, Chief People and Marketing Officer, at Belfast City Airport, said:
“As an airport in the heart of the city and at the heart of the community, we are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our passengers.
(L) Susan and Katie Douglas; (R) Alana and Riley Bonner
"Through this unique programme, now in its tenth year, we hope to make flying a more positive experience for children with autism, giving families the opportunity to enjoy travelling together."
The session, which was the first of its kind, showed families all aspects of the airport journey, including check-in, security, take off, and landing, designed to help children build confidence in a calm and supportive setting.
Dr Nichola Booth, Senior Lecturer in Behaviour Analysis at Queen's University Belfast, said:
“It has been great working with Belfast City Airport on this incredibly important initiative for the past ten years.
“Our goal is to make sure that every child has the chance to explore new opportunities in a way that is comfortable for them, and this event has provided an excellent platform for achieving just that."
(L) Lisa and Rebecca Allen; (L) Romy Neil
The flight was facilitated by Emerald Airlines, exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional services.
John Dillon, Head of Ground Operations at Emerald Airlines said:
“We are delighted to have been part of the ‘Autism in the Air’ initiative, supporting Belfast City Airport in creating such a meaningful and inclusive experience. It’s been a great to work alongside the airport and Queen’s University Belfast to help make air travel more accessible for children with autism and their families.”
To find out more about Autism in the Air, please tap here!