- With its 'Travel Rehearsal' initiative, Emirates breaks down invisible barriers and transforms the airport experience into a supportive journey, making travel accessible to everyone.

- In collaboration with ANGSA Lazio APS, the initiative welcomed 12 young participants and 16 caregivers, providing a hands-on rehearsal to build confidence and foster a seamless, truly inclusive travel experience.

Today, there are over 100 million people with autism and/or sensory sensitivities worldwide. . Data shows that 78% of them refrain from travelling due to fear of navigating unfamiliar environments. Emirates and Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) have therefore decided to help break down these 'invisible barriers' by hosting a 'Travel Rehearsal' at Rome Fiumicino Airport on February 21.

This milestone event in Rome is not an isolated initiative, but part of a global journey aimed at ensuring full inclusivity. The "Travel Rehearsal" program was pioneered at Emirates' hub in Dubai and, following its resounding success, has been progressively rolled out across numerous cities and strategic gateways worldwide. By bringing its extensive expertise to Italy, Emirates is setting a new international standard for accessibility in aviation. The choice of Rome Fiumicino Airport - not only a strategic hub for Emirates also recognised as Europe's best airport for the past eight consecutive years - underscores a powerful message: the opportunity to travel without requiring dedicated assistance from specialised staff should always be guaranteed. This commitment translates into airport infrastructures designed to provide an inclusive environment for all passengers, addressing both visible and invisible needs.

This full-scale travel rehearsal was successfully realized in collaboration with ANGSA Lazio APS (Associazione Nazionale Genitori perSone con Autismo).

The event welcomed 12 children and young adults, accompanied by 16 caregivers, allowing them to familiarise with the terminal of a major international airport. By simulating check-in procedures, security screening and boarding processes, participants had the opportunity to move through the airport spaces alongside all other passengers. This micro-experiential approach is essential to reduce stress and anxiety, helping people with autism and individuals with sensory sensitivities to better manage their responses ahead of an actual journey, while helping families to anticipate routes and the various steps before boarding - thus preventing potential challenges well in advance of the departure day.

Operational success goes far beyond passenger organisation, demanding the engagement of the entire airport community. This includes comprehensive training for airline staff, to ensure they can recognise and empathetically interact with people experiencing hidden disabilities. This paradigm shifts transforms 'travel' from a source of concern into an empowering journey towards independence, supported by dedicated resources and educational partnerships.

“No passenger should ever feel excluded from the beauty of discovering the world because of an invisible barrier”, stated Marco D’ilario, Italian Emirates Country Manager. “We have a duty to transform uncertainty into confidence and anxiety into excitement. Through this initiative, we are doing more than just explaining how to fly; we are restoring the fundamental right of thousands of people to dream of and experience a holiday with the peace of mind they deserve. Every smile at the check-in counters today proves that a barrier-free sky is finally possible”.

Veronica Pamio, Senior Vice President External Affairs, Sustainability and Destination Management at Aeroporti di Roma, declared: “The initiative held on February 21 stems from the desire to transform an experience that may be perceived as complex into an accessible and empowering opportunity. Offering young participants and their families a dedicated journey within the airport means accompanying them, step by step, through a high-stimulus environment, strengthening confidence in travel as a real possibility. Together with Emirates and ANGSA Lazio APS, we have created an initiative that goes beyond a single day - a collaborative model capable of generating social value and expanding opportunities for mobility, autonomy and individual choice. Inclusion, for us,” she concluded, “is not a standalone project, but a guiding principle of our development strategy. We will continue to invest with determination to make the airport experience increasingly welcoming, accessible and people-centred, in the belief that mobility is a right that creates opportunities and enables people to look towards their future”.

Building on the positive results achieved in Dubai and the proven effectiveness in major global cities, the launch at Rome Fiumicino Airport represents a decisive step forward in Europe, confirming that true service excellence lies in the ability to guarantee universal inclusion and enable unconditional participation.