Budapest Airport to Help People with Hidden Disabilities

One in six people in the world live with some kind of disability, but it is not always easy to see for outsiders. This year, Budapest Airport, the management company of the Hungarian capital’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport, has launched several initiatives at the airport to make travelling more pleasant and relaxing for people with hidden disabilities, such as joining the globally recognized Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program and creating a dedicated waiting area for passengers with a high sensitivity to external stimuli.

The signs of asthma, autism, Crohn’s disease or even dyslexia may not be obvious to an outsider, but they can require special attention, help and empathy even in the most ordinary situations. To support passengers with invisible disabilities, Budapest Airport has joined the international Hidden Disabilities Sunflower (HDS) program, as part of which it has trained its staff working in passenger service areas to recognize Sunflower wearers, helping them to have a relaxed airport experience. The passengers concerned can indicate they have a hidden disability by wearing the Sunflower sticker or a lanyard and airport staff will ask them how they can help and provide support, understanding, extra-time and kindness.

Passengers can indicate already when booking their flights if they need special assistance, such as a medical professional to accompany them at the airport. If they do not require an escort, but need special attention and support during certain airport procedures, they can turn directly to the airport staff wearing the sunflower symbol, or indicate their need at the information totem or the information desk on site and may request a hidden disabilities lanyard. The Autism Foundation will also provide such an accessory on request, for those who contact them.

In addition to becoming a Sunflower-friendly airport, in September Budapest Airport opened a sensory room in Pier 1, next to the children’s play area, where people with autism or sensory sensitivities, i.e. those who are highly sensitive to external stimuli, can prepare for their flight in a relaxed environment. Here, passengers can escape from the hustle and bustle of the terminal, into a calming environment, where the furnishings, lighting and soundproofing all support a stress-free airport experience.

“It is of utmost importance for Budapest Airport that all passengers should feel safe and comfortable at the airport. Joining the Sunflower Program and providing the sensory room to a very significant proportion of people, the hidden disability community, will help to make travelling a relaxing and real experience for them too,” the chief passenger services officer of Budapest Airport, István Szabó emphasized. He added that “we have taken numerous steps in recent years to help passengers living with disabilities; for example, by improving accessibility, providing tactile paving and a dedicated application for blind and partially sighted passengers. Our two new projects follow this series of measures."

Paul White, the CEO of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower said that “Budapest Airport has shown a clear commitment to its passengers with invisible disabilities. By adopting the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and training airport staff to recognize Sunflower wearers, show empathy and offer support, they welcome anyone travelling alone and those with family members or groups, so that they will have a positive experience at the airport. Inclusive adaptations like the new sensory room and the Sunflower improve accessibility for disabled passengers.”

Due to limited capacity, Budapest Airport asks passengers to use the sensory room only if they have a genuine sensory or hypersensitivity disability, helping to ensure that passengers with additional needs can wait in an appropriate environment. For those who need a quiet retreat or need to have a meeting before travelling, four soundproofed quiet boxes accommodating two people each are available at the airport, for free use.