A new sensory room has opened at Manchester Airport to support passengers with hidden disabilities.
Located in Terminal 2, the Sunflower Room is designed to provide a calm and supportive environment for travellers with autism, neurodivergence, and other non-visible disabilities.
The facility features two sensory rooms equipped with interactive elements, as well as a quiet space with comfortable seating, low lighting, and minimal stimuli.
Ed Kibblewhite, head of terminal services at Manchester Airport, said: "We’re proud to offer a world-class experience in our award-winning Terminal 2, which is nearing the end of a decade-long transformation.
"This is the latest step in that journey and the facility that we are opening here really is at the cutting edge.
"Whether you’re looking to relax, reduce sensory input, or simply recharge, these spaces are available for you to use and do not need to be pre-booked."
Features in the sensory rooms include bubble tubes, infinity mirrors, light projectors, and adjustable lighting for both brightness and colour.
Passengers can use weighted, padded furniture and choose whether to sit, stand, or lie down.
Flight information screens are located at the entrance for easy access to updates.
The rooms were designed by Yorkshire-based sensory specialists AmbiSpace, with input from the National Autistic Society, the airport’s special assistance provider ABM, and the Manchester Airport Disability Forum.
Dean Cook, marketing manager at AmbiSpace, said: "We’ve previously worked on sensory rooms and quiet spaces in a range of environments, from prisons to schools and colleges, to shopping centres – but this is the first time we’ve worked on a space like this in an airport, so it’s great to have been able to be part of this project.
"There was a long and meticulous design and consultation process for this space, and the goal was to have a diverse sensory area that could accommodate a range of needs.
"Different users of this space will have different needs as they relax ahead of their flights and in such a busy international airport, the full array of needs and preferences will be represented among the passengers travelling through, so we needed to be mindful of that."
Emma Roberts, a project officer for the National Autistic Society based in Greater Manchester, welcomed the opening.
Ms Roberts said: "By offering three distinct, private spaces, Manchester Airport is supporting passengers to feel calm and regulate before their flight.
"This space can absolutely become a part of the travel routine in Terminal 2 for autistic passengers and their travel companions."
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