Summary

  • Familizarize with flying: Adelaide Airport & Virgin Australia’s Try Before You Fly program helps those with disabilities navigate air travel.
  • Inclusive service: Program supports people with disabilities, anxiety, autism, ensuring a comfortable and confident flying experience.
  • Positive impact: Customers who participated in the pilot program are already booked to fly, showing success and demand for the initiative.

Traveling through crowded airports, navigating security screening lines and boarding an aircraft can be a frustrating and tiring affair for all of us, but spare an extra thought for those living with disabilities and other physical or mental health needs. This week, Adelaide Airport and Virgin Australia did much more than that for people who perceive flying as a barrier to travel.

Practical practice at ADL

Today, South Australia’s Adelaide Airport (ADL) announced it has partnered with Virgin Australia in a new initiative designed to help people who find the whole airport and flying experience a difficulty. Aptly named Try Before You Fly, the pilot program had its first outing this week at Adelaide Airport, the first such airport/airline initiative in Australia.

Adelaide Airport TryBeforeFly

Photo: Adelaide Airport

More than 30 passengers who live with disabilities or other health issues, plus their family members, companions, and support workers, took part in the first program. They were given the opportunity to go through the entire airport and boarding process, from arriving at the airport to being seated on a Virgin Australia aircraft ready for take-off.

Adelaide Airport TryBeforeFly

Photo: Adelaide Airport

Adelaide Airport Executive General Manager People, Culture and Customer Dermot O’Neill said traveling by plane was exciting but could also be intimidating, especially for customers with disabilities or other health needs.

“We wanted to give these customers a chance to be familiar with what will happen before they fly for real, to help take away some of the anxiety of the unknown. It’s about helping them become familiar with the airport environment and processes and ensure a more comfortable and confident travel experience.”

Adelaide Airport TryBeforeFly-AAL-078

Photo: Adelaide Airport

The program supports people with disabilities and is also aimed at people with conditions that impact travel, such as anxiety and autism. The group went through a test run of the entire process, from arriving at the airport, checking in, passing through security, boarding a Virgin Australia Boeing 737, and buckling up their seatbelts ready for take-off.

Adelaide Airport TryBeforeFly-AAL

Photo: Adelaide Airport

Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO and Co-Chair for the Belonging Strategy for the Virgin Australia Group, Nick Rohrlach, said the program is a great way to assist individuals with disabilities to become more comfortable with the airport setting and processes. He added that the airline wants to make the travel experience wonderful for everyone, adding:

“This exciting initiative aims to open a world of possibilities for those people who would ordinarily feel uncomfortable traveling.”

Adelaide Airport TryBeforeFly-AAL

Photo: Adelaide Airport

Simple Flying readers may recall the article about Virgin Australia (VA) being the first Australian airline to allow pets in the cabin. The airline has excellent credentials for going the extra mile for passengers concerned about flying, including those traveling with assistance dogs, vision and hearing impairments and mobility assistance.

Related

Virgin Australia Announces Australia’s First-Ever Pets Onboard

Virgin Australia is the first Australian airline to allow travelers to bring their cats and dogs onboard, with a launch planned in the next 12 months.

Walking the talk

Adelaide Airport provides a variety of accessibility services, including landside/airside assistance animal relief areas, a volunteer ambassador program, a meet-and-assist program at the accessible drop-off and pick-up zone, hearing loops installed throughout the terminal, and a dedicated security assistance lane.

Adelaide Airport TryBeforeFly-AA

Photo: Adelaide Airport

A familiar face around the airport is Elmo, the airport’s pooch who spends his time as a reassuring presence for people with hidden disabilities who may need some support that is not immediately apparent. The airport also has a sunflower card and lanyard-based system that offers customers a discreet way to indicate to airport staff that extra assistance is needed.

Adelaide Airport Elmo TryBeforeFly

Photo: Adelaide Airport

The airport and Virgin Australia want the Try Before You Fly program to continue and have been heartened by the positive feedback from the first pilot experience. The proof is in the pudding, as many of the customers who took part are already booked to fly in the coming weeks.

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