At Autism Double-Checked, our mission is simple: to help make travel more accessible, predictable, and supportive for autistic travelers and their families.
We’re proud to partner with Virgin Atlantic on an important new initiative that brings that mission to life in the skies.
Virgin Atlantic has launched a new Autism Awareness training program for all cabin crew, developed in partnership with Autism Double-Checked and informed by individuals with lived experience of autism. The training will be rolled out as part of the airline’s annual recurrent training, ensuring that crew members across the organization are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to better support autistic passengers and their families.
Building Confidence Through Understanding
For many autistic travelers, flying can present unique challenges — from navigating unfamiliar environments to managing sensory sensitivities and unexpected changes.
This training program is designed to address those challenges by giving cabin crew practical tools to support passengers in real, meaningful ways.
The program includes two digital learning modules focused on:
- Increasing general understanding of autism
- Recognizing signs of distress or overwhelm
- Adapting communication styles to meet individual needs
- Offering reassurance and support throughout the journey
By focusing on awareness, communication, and empathy, the goal is simple: to help make every passenger feel more comfortable, understood, and supported onboard.
A Commitment to Inclusive Travel
As Becky Woodmansee, Chief People Officer at Virgin Atlantic, shared:
“At Virgin Atlantic, we’re committed to making sure everyone can take on the world. We know that for autistic customers and their families, flying can be a unique and unfamiliar environment which presents challenges. By listening to our customers and working with autism travel specialists Autism Double-Checked, alongside our own people who have personal experience of autism, we’ve built a training programme that gives every crew member the understanding and confidence to make a real difference onboard.”
This initiative reflects a broader commitment from Virgin Atlantic to create a more inclusive travel experience for all passengers.
It also builds on previous efforts, with plans to extend autism awareness training to customer-facing ground staff in 2026—further strengthening support across the entire travel journey.
Why This Matters
Inclusive travel is not just about access — it’s about confidence.
When airline staff are equipped with the right training and understanding, it can transform the experience for autistic travelers and their families. Small moments — clear communication, patience, and reassurance — can make a meaningful difference in helping someone feel at ease.
As Alan Day, Founder & CEO of Autism Double-Checked, shared:
“For autistic travellers and their families, knowing that every crew member on a flight has been trained to understand and support their needs is such a positive step in the right direction. We’re proud to have developed this programme with Virgin Atlantic and hope it sets a new standard for the industry.”
Looking Ahead
We’re honored to support Virgin Atlantic in this work and excited to see the impact this training will have onboard.
As more organizations across the travel industry take steps toward greater accessibility, we remain committed to working alongside partners to help make inclusive travel the norm — not the exception.
👉 Learn more about Autism Double-Checked certification:
https://autismchecked.com/what-we-do/
