On October 18, 2026, Hawaiian Airlines welcomed 258 travelers with disabilities and their families aboard an Airbus A330 in Honolulu, for what the airline described as the largest disability practice flight ever held.
The event, which took place at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), was designed to help participants become more comfortable with air travel. It was also the first time a widebody aircraft had been used for a disability practice flight, which allowed more families to take part.
It marked Hawaiian’s first practice flight in Honolulu since 2016. Its sister carrier, Alaska Airlines, typically hosts three to four practice flights each year for travelers with disabilities.
Families practiced every step of a trip, from check-in to taxiing
On the day, participants went through the full airport process. They checked in at the ticket counter, received boarding passes, passed through security, found their gate and boarded the aircraft. The A330 then pushed back from the gate and taxied around the airport before returning, without taking off.
Crowded terminals, unfamiliar procedures and the noise of an airport can make travel difficult for travelers with autism, sensory sensitivities and other disabilities. The practice flight gave families a lower-pressure setting in which to experience each step together and ask questions.
“We want every guest to feel welcome and confident when they travel with us,” said Shelly Parker, Hawaiian Airlines’ head of Hawaiʻi guest operations. “We hope this experience helps participants feel more prepared for their next journey.”
Event organized with three Hawaii nonprofits
Hawaiian organized the flight in collaboration with local nonprofits Never Quit Dreaming, Hawaii Autism Foundation and Autism Society of Hawaii.
Kristopher Dung, founder and director of Never Quit Dreaming, observed that unfamiliar airport procedures, sensory challenges and long periods of sitting can make such families hesitant to travel. “These practice flights are really important for our families because it exposes them to the unknown,” he said.
According to Dung, many of the families his organization works with hope to visit destinations such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and LEGOLAND, and events like this can help them to prepare.
Julia Wilson, a board-certified behavior analyst with Hawaii Autism Foundation, said that practice opportunities are especially important for families in Hawaii, where flying is the only way to travel beyond the islands. She noted that some participants seemed unsure at first, but grew more comfortable as the event went on.
“As soon as the safety briefing came on the screen, every child in that plane immediately had their eyes locked right on that safety screen,” Wilson said.