This Is the First Airline to Be Awarded the ‘Autism Friendly Award’

British Airways (BA) has announced that it has received an award for work to raise awareness of autism among staff and its efforts to improve the experience of autistic customers. It’s the first carrier to receive the ‘Autism Friendly Award’ from the National Autistic Society, a British charity.

Lauded for its initiatives to raise awareness of hidden disabilities among staff and praised for its efforts to enhance the experience of customers with autism, British Airways (BA) has received the ‘Autism Friendly Award’ from Britain’s National Autistic Society. The carrier, which is celebrating its centenary year, revealed that it had received this award in a statement issued on April 2nd, which is officially designated as World Autism Awareness Day.

Speaking of this accolade, Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ director of brand and customer experience, said, “I am really proud that British Airways has been recognized as the first autism-friendly airline in the UK. We welcome nearly half a million customers who require special assistance each year and we’ll be prioritising further improvements for these customers throughout our centenary year.”

“This includes a new, specialist team in our customer contact centers, accessible information on ba.com and further training for colleagues. We also understand that our customers with autism often find new environments stressful and overwhelming and that’s why we’re creating a step-by-step guide of the British Airways journey experience, which I’m looking forward to sharing with customers very soon,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of the National Autistic Society, Tom Purser, the charity’s head of campaigns and public engagement, said, “We are delighted to be able to recognize British Airways as the first autism-friendly airline in the UK; the airline has worked hard to achieve our prestigious Autism Friendly Award, making changes to staff training, the kind of information available to customers and the process of getting on and off a British Airways aircraft.”

He continued, “By taking these steps, now and into the future, British Airways is opening up its world-renowned customer service and working with us to help create a society that works for autistic people.”

[Image Source: British Airways]