Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) marked the 10th annual "Autism in Flight" event yesterday, celebrating a decade of helping young travelers with autism feel more comfortable with air travel. In partnership with Broward County Public Schools, the program gives students a chance to practice the full airport experience, from check-in to takeoff, in a supportive and low-stress environment. Over 40 joyous students from nine different schools, accompanied by their families, partook in the orchestrated airport ballet, according to a press release from Broward County.
The educational endeavor included practices such as check-in, security protocol, and boarding – a journey that culminated in a 'flight' to Punta Cana, though wheels never left the tarmac, the authentic rehearsal was punctuated by an anniversary photo on the tarmac, in front of JetBlue's Super Mario-themed aircraft which is all part of a larger effort to minimize the stress of air travel for families with children on the autism spectrum with the program including speakers such as Debra Hixon, BCPS School Board Chair; Wayne Mayers Jr, JetBlue Airways' Chief Pilot at FLL; and Celina Saucedo from the Broward County Aviation Department, who kicked off the ceremony.
The 'Autism in Flight' initiative, launched in May 2013, is a concerted effort by entities such as BCAD/FLL, JetBlue, BCPS, the TSA, and includes support from the Broward County Commission, Broward Sheriff's Office, and Delaware North among other contributors, this program hibernated during the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to pandemic concerns and took another pause in 2023, before roaring back into action this year.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport saw over 35 million travelers pass through its terminals in the year 2024, a hub of economic activity worth its weight in palm-fringed gold, as it operates without local tax dollar support, according to the same press release, with the department also managing North Perry Airport, FLL offers flight footprints in commercial and private aviation unmatched in the Golden Coast.
