Airport Quiet Zones Open at East Midlands
East Midlands Airport has introduced new facilities aimed at making travel easier for neurodivergent passengers and those who experience anxiety. A new Quiet Room has opened in a calmer part of the terminal, away from the main departure lounge. Alongside it, the airport has installed the first sensory pod of its kind at a UK airport, offering a space to step back from noise and crowds.
The launch comes during Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which focuses on recognising the strengths of neurodivergent people and challenging common views. The Quiet Room and sensory pod are part of the airport’s Assisted Travel service, which supported 100,000 people in 2025. Use of the service has been growing, especially among those who need quieter, more controlled spaces before flying.
What the new spaces include
- A Quiet Room near boarding gates with varied seating
- A sound-insulated sensory pod (Calmpod)
- Adjustable lighting and ventilation controls
- Space for carers or family members
- Equipment selected with occupational therapy input
The pod is fully wheelchair accessible and designed to reduce surrounding noise to a level similar to a quiet bedroom.
These changes make the airport easier to use for people who find busy terminals difficult. Quieter areas give passengers a place to step away from noise, including families with children who may need a break before boarding. It can make the journey easier to handle. It also opens up travel to people who might have avoided it before because of how stressful the airport environment can be.
Small changes in airport design can have a big impact on who feels able to travel. Spaces like these give people more control over their surroundings at a time that can be stressful. As more airports look at accessibility in practical ways, similar facilities could become more common, helping to remove barriers that often go unnoticed but matter to those who face them.