Nearly a year into operations, David Neeleman's latest startup airline, 'Seriously Nice' Breeze Airways, is looking to become more inclusive. The airline announced on Thursday it has partnered with Connecticut-based Austim Double-Checked for a training program for its flight attendants to deliver a safe and happy travel experience to individuals with autism.
Families with ASD less likely to vacation
In North America, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects approximately one in 58 children. Research has shown that families with an autistic child are much less likely than families with neurotypical children to go on holidays for fear of how the child may react to overly stimulating environments, especially in airports and on aircraft.
Breeze's front-line team members will receive training on how to identify and alleviate the particular stresses of air travel experienced by people with autism. The carrier's founder, CEO, and serial airline entrepreneur, David Neeleman, share the following statement accompanying today's announcement,
“It has always been our top priority to provide a simple, accommodating, and reliable travel experience to each of our customers. Combined with everything else we bring to the marketplace, this initiative will help ensure that our autistic Guests receive a stress-free and pleasant air travel experience.
Personal experience prompted specialized travel agency and consultancy
The co-founder of Austim Double-Checked, Alan Day, is an experienced and accomplished travel agent whose son has ASD. Due to the significant challenges the family experienced while traveling, he founded ASD Vacations to better serve families such as his own in 2012. Mr Day shared his thoughts on Breeze's decision to embark on training for cabin crew,
“We are thrilled to partner with Breeze to help their team to better understand and assist guests with autism. April is World Autism Acceptance Month and we hope this partnership will be a catalyst to elevate the importance of autism training for the travel/hospitality industry."
Autism Double-Checked's other founder is commercial aviation veteran David M. Tait, a Scotsman who was part of drafting the business plan for Virgin Atlantic along with Richard Branson, and went on to become the airline's Executive Director and EVP. Mr Tait has also received an OBE (Officer of the Order of The British Empire) for “Services to British aviation in the USA”.
A growing list of certified carriers
Breeze says this program will make the airline the first certified autism-inclusive network carrier in the US. That is not to say other airlines do not work to create a more inclusive environment. For instance, American Airlines has been running a program known as 'It's cool to fly American' for the past eight years. Meanwhile, across the border to the north, Flair Airlines cabin crew members completed Autism Double-Checked's autism awareness certification course in 2019.
In the other direction, LATAM announced last month that the airline would also commence training with Autism Double-Checked to make sure that airline personnel meet the requirements of handling and understanding autistic passengers on the carrier's flights.
Autism Double-Checked offers three levels of certification - Autism Aware, Autism Ready, and the highest, 'Autism Double-Checked'. The consultancy firm says it will soon launch a searchable directory of certified companies. Dare we believe, and hope, that the list of airline clients will only grow longer?