Understanding mobility in real lives as we age implies understanding where, how and why people move over short and long distances.

Canadians D-AIRing to travel: Air Travel and Passengers Living with Cognitive Impairment or Dementia

man and woman at airport
Man and woman at airport with luggage

The air travel industry has historically designed service experiences to meet a typical passenger’s needs. Yet the focus on a “typical person” is misguided and limiting as it does not accommodate the diversity of people and customers whose needs are not being met.

Recently, attention has turned to improving service accessibility and inclusivity to innovate by tailoring product offerings to a broader base of customers. However, making adjustments and accommodations requires rethinking the wide-varying needs and goals of persons with disabilities, especially for conditions that are not immediately noticeable, manifested in various ways or undiagnosed, are misunderstood or lack advocacy or feelings of identification.

Guided by the aims of the Accessible Canada Act, this research aims to eliminate barriers to air travel for persons with cognitive impairments or persons living with dementia.

Project team

Linda Garcia

Linda Garcia

Co-Lead

Michael Mulvey

Michael Mulvey

Co-Lead

Paulette Guitard

Paulette Guitard

Co-Investigator

Burak Kantarci

Burak Kantarci

Co-Investigator

Ravi Malhotra

Ravi Malhotra

Co-Investigator

Valentina Primossi

Valentina Primossi

Co-Investigator

Mark Salter

Mark Salter

Co-Investigator

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Heather Cowie

Collaborator

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Kiran Rabheru

Collaborator

Funding

Transport Canada logo

Transport Canada

Responsible for transportation policies and programs that promote safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible transportation.