Hawaiian Airlines hosted its largest-ever disability practice flight at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, carrying 258 travellers with disabilities and their families aboard an Airbus A330. The aircraft pushed back and taxied around the airport without departing, while participants rehearsed the main stages of a commercial journey in a lower-pressure environment.
The exercise covered check-in, boarding-pass collection, security screening, locating the departure gate and boarding the aircraft. It was designed to familiarise people with autism, sensory sensitivities and other disabilities with crowded terminals, airport procedures, announcements, engine noise and the physical experience of being on a moving aircraft.
The programme was organised with Never Quit Dreaming, the Hawaiʻi Autism Foundation and the Autism Society of Hawaii. Using a widebody aircraft for the first time allowed more participants and families to take part. The event also marked Hawaiian Airlines’ return to hosting practice flights in Honolulu after a similar programme in 2016.