Emirates brings Travel Rehearsal programme to Zambia | News
Emirates has expanded its Travel Rehearsal programme to Zambia, continuing its commitment to make air travel more inclusive and accessible in Africa and across the globe.
Uncertainty around airport and aircraft procedures, coupled with concerns on unknown sensory stimuli, are key concerns for travellers and families with accessibility requirements – a study on AutismTravel.com revealed that 78% of families report feeling hesitant to travel or visit new places. In its role as the world’s first Autism-Certified Airline, Emirates ideated the global Travel Rehearsal initiative, to help remove this barrier.
In Lusaka, Emirates collaborated with Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and AutistismTales Support Group to host children on the autism spectrum along with their carers on a simulated, real-time journey through the airport, practicing the actions of checking in, dropping baggage, going through immigration and security, and experiencing the hustle and bustle of retail and dining areas.
Ahmad Ismail, Emirates’ Country Manager in Zambia said, “Our Travel Rehearsal programme is an important initiative to empower children and young adults with autism, by helping to make the airport and aircraft experience more predictable and reassuring. We are proud to bring it to Zambia and would like to extend our thanks to the full airport community at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, and AutistismTales Support Group for their role in this pioneering event, and to the Emirates Airport Services management and team in Lusaka who were instrumental in hosting this simulation.”
Urvesh Desai, Managing Director of Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL), welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to inclusive and accessible travel experiences:
“At Zambia Airports Corporation Limited, we believe that every passenger deserves a seamless, dignified, and enjoyable travel experience. Inclusion is therefore not simply a customer service consideration, but a fundamental component of how we design, operate and continuously improve our airports.
As airport operators, we recognise that passengers with autism and other hidden disabilities may face unique challenges when travelling. Initiatives such as this travel rehearsal are invaluable in helping airports, airlines and other stakeholders better prepare and reduce travel-related anxiety and create a more supportive and predictable journey for passengers and their families.”
Nyakandata Mwaba, Founder of AutistismTales Support Group and a mother of a neurodiverse child and three others, explained that travel can be difficult for people on the spectrum and their families as they experience a lot of challenges such as unfamiliar spaces and awareness levels among service providers. She noted that preparedness on both sides was important in making travel accessible and comfortable for them: “This initiative by Emirates is definitely encouraging and we are in a better space to travel knowing we can find some understanding and accommodations.”
Bupe Masenga, another parent and avid traveller whose son is yet to make his first trip, described the experience as “something that needed to be done,” and to “see the areas that needed attention or things that can be done to accommodate children on the spectrum.”
“It was awesome because he has learnt what to do, how to board a plane, handle the luggage and everything. The whole experience was beautiful, and we are very ready to travel,” said Alice Bweupe, mother to a six-year-old son.
“I came with my two kids to just have a whole airport experience before travel and it has been such a great experience,” said Chimfwembe, a grateful mother who noted that the initiative helped to broaden the children’s perspective on travel.
Since April 2025, Emirates’ Airport Services teams have come together to arrange more than 40 of these travel rehearsals across airports like Accra, Athens, Bali, Bangalore, Barcelona, Bologna, Brussels, Christchurch, Da Nang, Delhi, Dubai, Dublin, Durban, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Harare, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Lusaka, Madrid, Mauritius, Milan, Newcastle, Nice, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Peshawar, Port Luis, Rome, Stansted, Stockholm, Sydney, Toronto, Trivandrum, Venice, Vienna, Washington, and Warsaw.
More than 35,000 Emirates staff have been trained to support customers with autism and can help facilitate travel, and Travel Rehearsals. Emirates teams work very closely with airport authorities and partners to make sure each rehearsal is a supportive and successful experience for the families.
