Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation have wrapped up another inspiring year of Autism Aviation Days, a national initiative that helps children on the autism spectrum and their families experience air travel in a supportive and low-stress environment.
With seven events hosted across Vancouver, Kamloops, Calgary, St. John’s, Quebec City, Winnipeg, and Edmonton, and support from PAL Airlines, Jazz Aviation, and local autism organisations, this year marked the program’s most expansive edition yet. The final event of the year took place in Vancouver, rounding off a successful season of community connection and inclusion.
Expanding Horizons: Helping Families Experience Air Travel
Each Autism Aviation Day follows a similar format, offering families a realistic but pressure-free introduction to air travel. Participants check in, receive boarding passes, and go through mock security screening before boarding an aircraft that taxis along the runway, an experience that captures the excitement of flying while maintaining a calm and controlled environment.
Brigitte St-Pierre, Director of Official Languages and Community Engagement at Air Canada, said the expansion reflects the strong demand and meaningful impact of the initiative.
“We were able to offer this experience to more families from coast to coast,” she said. “It’s an honor to work with so many autism organisations that do tremendous work in their communities. This program opens new possibilities for families who may have thought travel wasn’t accessible to them.”
Compared to four events in 2024, this year’s seven events helped more than 450 children and their families gain confidence in navigating airports, a significant leap in participation and reach.
Empowering Through Experience: Breaking Barriers Together
The concept for Autism Aviation Days began in Victoria, British Columbia, when Edna Ray, Senior Manager of Regional Sales at Air Canada, collaborated with a certified Autism Travel Professional to help families experience flying in a safe and inclusive way.
“Accessibility is measured in many ways,” said Paul Walsh, CEO of the Autism Society of Newfoundland & Labrador. “On October 5th, I saw smiles and tears of joy as families realised they’d broken through a barrier that once kept them from travelling together. When society breaks down those barriers, we move closer to true inclusion.”
In Quebec City, Johanne Potvin, Vice President of the Fondation de l’autisme de Québec, praised the professionalism and compassion of the Air Canada Foundation team. She noted that over 60 people took part in their local event, gaining valuable first-hand experience with airport procedures and the confidence to travel in the future.
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