Emirates Expands Global Travel Rehearsal Programme Across All UK Airports
Emirates X Manchester Airport | Travel Rehearsal | 11th June 2026 | Images credit: Emirates
Emirates has completed its Travel Rehearsal programme across all eight UK airports served by the airline, marking another step in its efforts to make air travel more accessible and reassuring for passengers with additional support needs.
The initiative, which offers a guided simulation of the airport and flying experience, is designed to remove some of the uncertainty that can accompany travel. Participants are taken through key stages of the journey before their actual flight, from check-in and security to the departure lounge, followed by a simulated arrivals experience covering immigration, passport control, baggage collection and meet-and-greet.
Across the UK, Emirates has worked with special needs schools and Additional Support Needs groups to host more than 40 sessions, with more than 250 families taking part globally and more than 90 participants attending UK sessions to date. The programme has now been delivered at London Stansted, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
For many travellers, the airport experience can be as much about familiarity as logistics. By allowing participants to see, hear and experience each stage of their journey in advance, the rehearsals offer an opportunity to build confidence and make the prospect of flying feel more manageable.
“Bringing this global initiative to every Emirates gateway across the UK, from Scotland down to London, is something we are incredibly proud of,” said Jabr Al-Azeeby, Emirates’ divisional vice president, UK. “As the world’s first autism-certified airline, we are committed to helping remove some of the invisible barriers that people with accessibility requirements can face when travelling.”
The sessions have been supported by Emirates Airport Services teams alongside airport staff at each of the eight UK gateways. According to Emirates, feedback from participating families has been positive, with the airline planning to continue the programme and extend its reach to more travellers.
A more considered approach to accessible travel
Emirates became the world’s first Autism-Certified Airline, with more than 35,000 cabin crew and ground staff completing specialised autism-awareness training. The programme covers the autism spectrum, common misconceptions and the challenges some passengers may encounter while travelling, as well as approaches to providing more personalised support.
Since April 2025, Emirates Airport Services teams have organised more than 40 Travel Rehearsal sessions around the world, welcoming more than 250 families across destinations including Dubai, Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Toronto, Venice and Vienna.
The programme reflects a broader shift towards making the journey itself—not simply the destination - more inclusive. For passengers who find unfamiliar environments, busy terminals or changes in routine challenging, the opportunity to rehearse the experience beforehand can offer something particularly valuable: a greater sense of what to expect before take-off.
