Source: MIA

  • More than 150 children rehearse the travel experience

A week before the Thanksgiving travel season begins, Miami International Airport (MIA), Delta Air Lines, and LATAM Airlines hosted the airport’s latest MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness (MIAair) tour for more than 150 children with disabilities from local schools, along with their parents, teachers, and guardians. The tour allowed participants to rehearse the air travel experience from start to finish, all the way to an airplane seat, in a safe and controlled environment.

“We strive to make Miami-Dade County services as accessible as possible to all of our residents, which is why I am so proud of MIA’s successful efforts to empower travelers with disabilities through its award-winning MIAair tour program. With this month’s MIAair tour, even more children and their families gained the confidence and comfort they need to experience the joy of air travel without barriers,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

The children practiced entering the airport, getting boarding passes, going through security, and boarding a LATAM Airlines plane with the airline’s gate agents and flight crew. The program also served as a learning experience for airline and airport workers at MIA. The goal of the MIAair program is for anyone, regardless of their disability, to experience the magic and wonder of flight. Since launching the MIAair tours in 2015, in partnership with the UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), MIA has now hosted tours for nearly 400 children with disabilities.

“Thank you to our partners at Miami International Airport and LATAM for investing their facilities and their hearts in accessible travel. Travel is for everyone, and we’re delighted to spread a little cheer and make the travel experience more familiar and accessible for to these kids and their families this holiday season,” said Alison Lathrop, Delta’s Managing Director of Accessibility Programs.

“We are delighted to take part in this event that brings together so many children and their families. At LATAM, we are committed to building an inclusive and accessible travel industry. As part of this commitment, we have been enhancing the travel experience for people with disabilities—through initiatives such as practice boarding across our South American subsidiaries and partnerships with Autism Double-Checked and Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. These collaborations help us create a more accessible journey for passengers on the autism spectrum and those with hidden disabilities. Today’s event has been a meaningful opportunity to further our mission of promoting accessibility and inclusion,” said Cristina De Melo, VP North America & Caribbean at LATAM Airlines.

For more information about MIA’s award-winning MIAair program, visit the MIAair webpage.