" CSR is not just about ecology and sustainable development. There are different types of passenger, with different needs, and we need to respond to them. It's a subject that I think we need to develop in 2025, and one that will play an increasingly important role in the managerial agenda. ". The analysis of Sabah Kahoul on the challenges facing business travel in 2025 was not long in coming... A few days ago, the Managing Director of Business Travel Purchase confided that she had " the ambition to take a broader view of CSR, incorporating diversity and inclusion issues ". An ambition that was quickly echoed byEmirates. On 10 January, the company announced its new ambition: to become the the first airline in the world to be certified as an Autism Certified Airline. And above all "to enable customers with autism and sensory disorders to benefit from made-to-measure services and a individual support ". The certification, issued by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) - a leading organisation in training and certification in the field of autism and neurodiversity - is even expected to be involved. in the coming months.
By then, Emirates intends to have completed the training of its 30,000 flight and ground staff. The certification requires that at least 80 % of customer-facing staff complete the dedicated training. Emirates already obtained Certified Autism Center certification last April for its four check-in counters in Dubai, including its dedicated centre in terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport (DXB). At the end of 2023, Dubai airport became the first international airport to receive Certified Autism Centre certification.
Digital sensory guides and anti-stress toys
Emirates also plans to launch new services and introduce new standards. To do this, the airline will draw on a survey of 14,000 people with disabilities conducted by IBCCES, supplemented by a study carried out by IATA. Among the new features announced by Emirates for 2025 is the introduction of digital sensory guidesdesigned in partnership with IBCCES. The aim is to "enable passengers to better understand the environments they will encounter and to plan their journeys according to their needs and preferences". Another innovation on the 2025 roadmap: "sensory products" available on board, such as anti-stress toys.
According to a study published by AutismTravel.com, 78 % of affected families are reluctant to travel or visit new places. And 94 % of respondents would be prepared to travel more if destinations had staff trained and certified in autism.
