Unique Day at Montreal-Trudeau Airport for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) or Functional Limitations and Their Families【QUEBEC・CANADA】

Nearly an hundred children, accompanied by family members, had an opportunity to become acquainted with a typical traveller's journey through an airport, starting with arrival at the terminal parking lot, right up until the aircraft boarding and passenger-safety announcement.

"Following the success of the pilot project and the positive comments we received, we decided to make this an annual program," said Christiane Beaulieu, Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications, Aéroports de Montréal (ADM). "Today's activity is important for the families, but also for ADM. It enables us to better identify the needs and expectations of the families, and in this way we can improve our services to airport users."

For his part, Jean-François Lemay, General Manager of event partner Air Transat, said: "Preparing children for the experience of flying is essential for a successful family trip. This step is all the more important for parents of children with an ASD. That is why we are pleased to be the official partner airline of the Premium Kids program." Mr. Lemay added: "Our priority is to offer our passengers an exceptional, pleasant and safe experience, no matter their limitations. Air Transat provides an extensive range of information services to families travelling aboard its flights and Premium Kids is a natural extension of this."

This event is organized by ADM jointly with the following partners: Autisme et troubles envahissants du développement Montréal (ATEDM), the Giant Steps organization, Special Olympics Québec, Air Transat, Transport Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), Securitas, HMSHost, Sweet Factory, Runway Duty Free and the Montréal Airport Marriott Hotel.

ADM is Canada's first airport authority to introduce such a program, which is inspired by a similar initiative, "Wings for Autism," created more than three years ago by the Charles River Center in collaboration with the Massachusetts Port Authority Logan International Airport, Boston).

About Aéroports de Montréal

ADM is the local airport authority responsible for the management, operation and development of Montréal-Trudeau and Montréal-Mirabel international airports under a lease signed with Transport Canada in 1992. The Corporation employs 625 people at both airports and at head office. ADM has been ISO 14001 certified since 2000. The Montréal-Trudeau terminal has also obtained BOMA BESt certification and an ICI ON RECYCLE certificate of performance.

For further information on Aéroports de Montréal and its operations, please visit our website at www.admtl.com.

Aeroports de Montreal
Christiane Beaulieu
Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications
514 394-7304
Transat A.T. Inc.
Debbie Cabana
Communications and Media Relations Advisor
514 987-1616, ext. 4662

【2014.4.12 Montréal-Trudeau】