Emirates Holds Colombia’s First Travel Rehearsal for Autistic Travelers
An airport can present a sequence of hard-to-predict stimuli: lines moving at different speeds, overhead announcements, bright lights, security checks, gate changes, unfamiliar people and procedures that vary at each stage. For autistic travelers, that combination can turn an anticipated trip into an exhausting or uncertain experience. The challenge is not only for the traveler […]
Emirates organized Colombia's inaugural travel rehearsal for autistic people at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota. The event, conducted in October 2026, allowed participants and families to familiarize themselves with the airport experience before embarking on a flight. The rehearsal aimed to ease the potentially overwhelming sensory environment, which can include varying line speeds, announcements, bright lights, security checks, gate changes, unfamiliar staff, and procedures at each stage.
For autistic travelers, this combination can turn an anticipated trip into an exhausting or uncertain experience. Institutions must provide information, time, and support to allow each passenger to participate in the journey. The event, "El Dorado + Accessible," focuses on improving the experience of passengers with non-visible disabilities.
This initiative includes the Sunflower Lanyard, a voluntary sign worn by those who may need more time or assistance, and the "El Dorado at Your Own Pace" guide, which offers practical information about the airport journey. The Sunflower Lanyard does not replace the need for individualized assistance but can prompt staff to approach the traveler with care.
The airport's guide helps travelers anticipate various stages of the journey, from arriving at the terminal to immigration, baggage claim, and customs. Understanding these steps can make the abstract trip more recognizable. Accessibility in airports involves offering information and options without assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.
While the Sunflower Lanyard and guide cater to a broad spectrum of non-visible disabilities, including autism, individual needs may vary. Law 1618 of 2013 mandates public entities in Colombia to ensure effective inclusion for people with disabilities, assigning responsibility to both the state and entities regulating transportation services.
Aerocivil, Colombia's civil aviation authority, provides a passenger guide with general recommendations for travelers with disabilities. However, this guide does not encompass a national program of travel rehearsals specifically for autistic people, highlighting that accessible transportation is a shared responsibility between the state and aviation companies.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
