Airlines Increasingly Commit to Autism Training for Staff

The article, originally published by Daily Scoop on May 16, 2026, and sourced from https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2026/05/15/airlines-increasingly-commit-to-autism-training-for-staff/32004/, has been rephrased.

As the summer travel season approaches, airlines are taking proactive steps to create more inclusive environments for travelers on the autism spectrum.

Virgin Atlantic has announced that it will train all of its cabin crew members on how to support passengers with autism and their families. The airline is collaborating with Autism Double-Checked, an organization dedicated to helping travel companies become autism-friendly, to develop this initiative, which will be integrated into Virgin Atlantic’s regular training programs.

Becky Woodmansee, Virgin Atlantic’s chief people officer, explained, “We recognize that flying can be a challenging and unfamiliar experience for autistic travelers and their families. By listening to our customers and partnering with autism travel specialists like Autism Double-Checked, along with staff who have personal experience with autism, we’ve created a training program that equips every crew member with the understanding and confidence to make a meaningful difference onboard.”

The training involves two digital modules covering general autism information, recognizing signs of distress or overwhelm, and tailoring communication to meet individual needs. It also offers guidance on providing reassurance and support, according to Autism Double-Checked.

Alan Day, founder and CEO of Autism Double-Checked, commented, “For autistic travelers and their families, knowing that every crew member is trained to understand and support their needs is a significant and positive step forward. We’re proud to have partnered with Virgin Atlantic on this program and hope it will set a new industry standard.”

Beyond cabin crew, Virgin Atlantic also plans to extend autism training to ground staff involved in customer service later this year.

It’s worth noting that Virgin Atlantic is not the first airline to implement such training. Breeze Airways adopted autism awareness training in 2022, and Emirates announced last year that it had trained 30,000 cabin crew and ground staff in autism support.