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Air New Zealand, in collaboration with Autism New Zealand and Acorn Neurodiversity, has launched a new initiative to support neurodivergent children and their families. The airline hosted a flight familiarisation experience on June 7 at its training facility, designed to replicate the air travel process in a calm environment. This included stages such as check-in, security screening, boarding, and in-cabin procedures.
The goal was to help neurodivergent children gain confidence and familiarity before traveling while providing peace of mind for their families through firsthand experience. This effort is part of Air New Zealand's commitment to making travel accessible for all. The initiative was led by Air New Zealand's Enable Network, which supports employees with disabilities or those caring for someone with a disability.
Ed Collett, Senior Aircraft Programme Manager and Enable Network Lead at Air New Zealand, expressed pride in supporting families who may find travel challenging. "As the father of a young adult with autism," he said, "I know firsthand how lonely and overwhelming air travel sometimes feels." He added that these experiences build confidence and reduce fear while helping remove barriers that limit opportunities.
