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Emirates has expanded its groundbreaking autism "travel rehearsal" program to Denpasar, bringing a full airport and flight simulation to Bali so neurodiverse children and their families can experience the journey in a calm, low-pressure environment before they board a real flight.
A Milestone Moment for Inclusive Travel in Bali
The debut of Emirates travel rehearsal in Denpasar on February 18, 2026, marked the first time the program has been staged in Bali, one of Southeast Asias busiest and most beloved holiday islands. Seventeen participants, including eight children with autism and their caregivers, were invited to take part in the half-day simulation at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Working in coordination with Indonesian and Emirati authorities, Emirates adapted its established model from Dubai and other global hubs to the specific layout, procedures, and sensory profile of Balis main terminal. For families who often avoid air travel because of anxiety around crowded, noisy airports, the chance to walk through each step in advance offered something many said they had never had before: predictability.
Airport officials in Denpasar described the rehearsal as an important step in Balis wider effort to position itself as a truly welcoming destination for all travelers, including those with hidden disabilities. With tourism numbers rebounding and more families seeking long-haul holidays, organizers say the program is both a social responsibility initiative and a strategic investment in Balis future as an inclusive tourism hub.
Inside the Bali Travel Rehearsal: A Step-by-Step Practice Flight
The Bali session was designed to mirror a real flight day as closely as possible, without the pressure of a departure deadline or the sensory intensity of peak-hour passenger traffic. Families began at the international drop-off zone, where they could practice saying goodbye to relatives, gather their luggage, and approach the terminal in a controlled, unhurried way.
Inside the terminal, participants moved through check in, security screening, and immigration using counters and lanes staffed by personnel who had received specific training in autism awareness and communication. Children were encouraged to touch boarding passes, watch baggage move along the conveyor, and listen to the sounds of passport stamps and security machines, all while being reassured that they could pause or step away at any point.
Once airside, the group continued through the departure hall, practicing waiting at the gate, responding to boarding announcements, and lining up at the jet bridge. On board the parked aircraft, cabin crew demonstrated seat belts, tray tables, lavatory doors, and inflight entertainment controls, giving children time to explore their seats and ask questions. Rather than a full take off and landing, the Bali rehearsal focused on repeated exposure to the sights, sounds, and routines that can trigger anxiety in neurodiverse travelers.
At the end of the session, participants followed signs through arrivals and baggage claim, completing the loop from drop off to pick up. Parents and therapists described the ability to break the journey down into predictable steps as one of the programs most powerful features.
From Dubai Pilot Project to Global Network of Autism-Friendly Airports
Emirates first trialed the travel rehearsal concept in Dubai in 2023, in partnership with Dubais Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Airports, border authorities, police, and customs officials. That initial community-focused collaboration brought school groups and autism centers into Terminal 3 for guided walk-throughs of the check in area, security screening, boarding gates, and a short familiarisation flight.
Feedback from families and therapists in Dubai was clear: for many children, having the opportunity to rehearse the journey in a safe setting dramatically reduced anxiety before their first real flight. The airline subsequently scaled the initiative and, by 2025, had activated travel rehearsals across a network of international cities including Barcelona, Brisbane, Manila, Madrid, Manchester, Montreal, Nice, Oslo, Paris, and Toronto.
Each location follows the same core principles but is tailored to local airport infrastructure and the needs of partner schools and autism organizations. The focus is always on predictability, sensory awareness, and calm pacing, rather than efficiency or throughput. Bali now joins this growing list of hubs where families can request or be invited to participate in a rehearsal before undertaking long-haul journeys.
The Worlds First Autism Certified Airline Raises the Bar
The rollout of the travel rehearsal in Bali builds on Emirates status as the worlds first Autism Certified Airline, a designation earned after the carrier trained tens of thousands of cabin crew and ground staff in autism awareness and support. The training covers recognizing signs of sensory overload, communicating in clear and reassuring ways, and offering practical adjustments such as quieter seating options where possible.
In its Dubai hub, the airline has already secured Certified Autism Center designations for all dedicated check in facilities and its Terminal 3 operation, complementing Dubai International Airports own recognition as the first international airport to achieve such certification. These standards are now informing how Emirates works with airport authorities in partner destinations, including Denpasar.
For the Bali rehearsal, staff from the airline, airport operator, and local authorities coordinated to recreate elements of Dubais autism friendly route, from priority lanes and calm waiting areas to clear visual signage. While certification processes in Indonesia are still evolving, Emirates officials say the ultimate goal is to help align Bali with emerging global benchmarks in accessible aviation.
How Travel Rehearsals Help Families Fly With Confidence
For many families with autistic children, the challenge is not the flight itself but everything that happens before and after. Crowded check in halls, long security lines, unexpected loudspeaker announcements, and unfamiliar procedures can quickly become overwhelming. International studies consistently show that these stressors deter a large share of neurodiverse families from traveling at all, despite a strong desire to explore and take holidays together.
By turning the airport journey into a structured learning experience rather than a high-stakes test, Emirates travel rehearsal aims to turn fear into familiarity. Children can practice placing bags on the belt, walking through metal detectors, showing passports, and finding their seats with no risk of missing a flight. Caregivers learn which parts of the journey trigger discomfort and can plan coping strategies in advance, from noise-cancelling headphones to preferred snacks and sensory tools.
Parents who took part in earlier rehearsals in Dubai and other cities have reported that their children were calmer on subsequent real flights, more willing to enter the airport, and better able to anticipate what would happen next. Organizers hope that the Bali program will have a similar effect, giving local families and visiting residents the confidence to consider regional and long-haul trips they might once have ruled out.
Partnerships Driving Change in Bali and Beyond
The Bali travel rehearsal is the product of collaboration between Emirates, Indonesian aviation authorities, local airport management, and regional autism and special education organizations. These partners helped identify participating families, adapted the program to the specific layout of Denpasars terminals, and provided on-site therapists and support staff during the simulation.
Officials involved in the initiative say that such multi-agency cooperation is critical to building a travel environment that works for neurodiverse passengers at every stage, not just while they are on board the aircraft. From ticketing and check in to security screening, boarding, and border control, each stakeholder has a role in reducing uncertainty and creating calm, clearly signposted pathways.
The rehearsal also offered an opportunity for front-line staff in Bali to observe how small changes in tone, body language, and procedure can make a significant difference to an autistic childs comfort level. Organizers plan to use feedback from the Bali session to refine future events and to inform training modules for airport staff across Indonesia.
Balis Push to Become a More Inclusive Tourism Destination
Bali has long been celebrated for its hospitality, natural beauty, and spiritual culture, but the island is now increasingly focused on ensuring that its tourism success is inclusive. Local tourism authorities have identified accessible travel as a priority, recognizing that families with disabled or neurodiverse members are a growing and often underserved segment of global travelers.
Hosting Emirates autism travel rehearsal aligns with broader initiatives to make Balis hotels, attractions, and public spaces easier to navigate for visitors with diverse needs. In the context of Southeast Asias competitive tourism landscape, demonstrating leadership in accessibility can help the island stand out to travelers who carefully research where they will feel safe and supported.
For Emirati and Indonesian officials alike, the Denpasar event was also a symbol of deepening cooperation between the two countries in tourism and social inclusion. As Bali continues to recover its visitor numbers, projects that combine commercial opportunity with tangible community benefit are being welcomed as models for future development.
What Comes Next for Emirates Accessible Travel Vision
While the Bali rehearsal is a major milestone, Emirates officials have signaled that it is only one part of a broader accessible travel strategy. The airline continues to develop digital tools such as sensory guides that describe the levels of noise, light, and activity passengers can expect in cabins and at key points on the ground, as well as virtual tours that allow travelers to explore airport and aircraft environments from home.
Emirates is also working with global partners to refine an official autism friendly inflight certification standard that other airlines could adopt, potentially raising accessibility benchmarks across the industry. Training programs for staff are being refreshed and expanded to cover a wider range of hidden disabilities, reinforcing the message that inclusion must be built into every interaction, not treated as an afterthought.
For families in Bali and across the region, the most immediate impact will be the opportunity to join future rehearsal sessions as the program matures. Although participation is currently organized through accredited centers and by invitation, the long-term vision is a world in which rehearsed, autism aware travel is a normal, widely available part of the aviation experience, helping more people fly without fear.