Airports are spaces where, due to their structure, organisation, signage, and all the social interactions they demand, can become barriers that make it difficult, or prevent, people with disabilities from travelling by plane.
To eliminate these barriers, Aena airports have the No Barriers assistance service, aimed at people with reduced mobility or a disability.
Nevertheless, there are people with hidden disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), for whom, although they do not need the service, or prefer to transit through the airport independently, it is essential to try and reduce, as far as possible, the stress and anxiety they may suffer during the departures and arrivals processes.
Hidden disabilities badge
In order to avoid people with hidden disabilities coming across barriers like lack of understanding or negative attitudes to their behaviour, Aena has created a badge so that airport personnel can identify the people carrying it and improve their experience in the airports.
This badge, aimed at people with hidden disabilities who have difficulties in stressful environments, or those causing sensory stimulation, shows that the person may need support, help, or simply understanding, and a little more time for any activity at the airport. Showing this badge allows access to the airport’s security checkpoint that is specifically for families and persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) . Where the airport you are travelling from does not have a specific security checkpoint for families and PRMs, as far as possible, access to the general security checkpoint is made easier.
Remember that:
- You do not have to have the badge on show all the time you are at the airport if you don't want to.
- You should always follow instructions from the personnel in charge and respect the airport safety regulations at all times.
- This badge does not entitle the user to the assistance service, the service for preferential access to the security checkpoints (fast-track), or to exemptions from any procedure necessary for departure or arrival within the airport’s installations.
- For passengers who are travelling accompanied, it will only be necessary for one member of the family group to carry the badge.
Get your badge
The airports where you can currently use the badge are:
-
Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas
-
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández
-
Bilbao
-
César Manrique-Lanzarote
-
Fuerteventura
-
Grand Canary
-
Ibiza
-
Internacional Región de Murcia
-
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat
-
Málaga-Costa del Sol
-
Minorca
-
Palma de Mallorca
-
Seville
-
Santiago-Rosalía de Castro
-
Tenerife Norte-Ciudad de La Laguna
-
Tenerife Sur
-
Valencia
-
Vigo
Waiting rooms for passengers with invisible disabilities
For people with invisible disabilities who may need a quieter environment due to a special sensitivity to sensory stimuli such as noise, Aena has lounges for these passengers at the following airports:
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport. Silent lounge: to access the silent lounge you must go to the airport's passenger service (subject to availability). NOTICE: Currently closed for construction works.
- Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport. Sensory room: The airport has a sensory room for passengers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which offers a safe and appropriate environment for their needs. The room, which is located near the boarding area, has tactile and audiovisual elements such as the projection of videos featuring wind, sound and vibration effects, among others, where the stimuli can be graduated and adapted to the sensitivity of each person, as well as spacious adapted toilets. Access to the room must be requested in person at the "Barrier Free" service desk at the airport.
Sunflower lanyard
You should know that there are other types of identification for people with hidden disabilities, designed by private initiatives and associations. The most popular is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard. The sunflower lanyard shows you may need a little more help or time to go through airport processes, but you cannot access the security checks for families and PRMs with it.
If you need it, we’d encourage you to request Aena’s hidden disabilities badge to use its advantages.
Support materials
There are people, such as people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who may be helped by knowing about the process to be followed in the airport in advance in order to face up to it with less difficulty. To help you to prepare your trip, you have support materials.
