Hidden disabilities at airports: what the Sunflower lanyard scheme means for your journey

Hidden disabilities cover a wide range of conditions, from autism and anxiety disorders to dementia, chronic pain, hearing loss and post-traumatic stress, that are not immediately visible to others. For many people who live with them, airports can be among the most demanding environments they encounter: loud, unpredictable, fast-moving, and with very little tolerance for anyone who needs a little more time. The good news is that the travel industry has been paying attention, and there are now practical schemes in place at airports around the world that can make a real difference.

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

The most widely recognised of these is the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, launched at Gatwick Airport in 2016. The idea is simple: a green lanyard printed with sunflowers that a traveller can choose to wear as a quiet, visible signal to airport and airline staff that they may need a little extra help, patience or time. There are no forms to fill in, no diagnosis to declare, no questions asked.

Since 2016 the scheme has grown considerably. By 2025 more than 325 airports across 70 countries had joined the network, along with over 20 airlines including British Airways, Air France, Emirates and Qantas. Staff at participating airports and airlines are trained to recognise the sunflower symbol and to respond appropriately, whether that means a quieter route through security, a slower pace, or simply the awareness that the person in front of them may need a moment.

How to get a lanyard

Sunflower lanyards are free. At most participating airports you can collect one from an information desk or special assistance counter on the day of travel. You do not have to show any documentation or explain your condition. Once you have one, it is yours to keep and use at any Sunflower-recognised airport or venue anywhere in the world.

The full and regularly updated list of participating airports is available at hdsunflower.com. Coverage is widest in the United Kingdom, where virtually every airport from Heathrow and Gatwick to smaller regional airports takes part. Internationally, major hubs including Amsterdam Schiphol, New York JFK, Dubai International, Tokyo Narita, Sydney and Toronto Pearson are all part of the network.

It is worth being clear about what the lanyard does and does not do. It signals to those around you that you may need patience and support, and at most participating airports that signal is well understood. It does not guarantee expedited security screening, and it does not automatically entitle the holder to priority boarding. If staff are not approaching you, you can ask for help directly.

Travelling through Spain: the Aena hidden disabilities badge

Spain's airport authority, Aena, runs its own hidden disabilities scheme alongside the Sunflower programme, and it goes a step further. The Aena badge gives the holder access to the dedicated security lane for families and passengers with reduced mobility. The Sunflower lanyard alone does not provide this access at Spanish airports.

The scheme currently covers 20 Spanish airports including Madrid Barajas, Barcelona El Prat, Malaga, Valencia, Ibiza and airports across the Canary Islands and Balearics. For passengers travelling through Spain who would benefit from a quieter, less pressured route through security, it is one of the more practical steps available, and it costs nothing to download.

These schemes and formal special assistance are not the same thing

Both the Sunflower and the Aena badge are designed for people who want to travel independently but may benefit from awareness and a little more time. They sit alongside, rather than replace, the formal special assistance service available at airports, which can include meet-and-assist support, wheelchair provision and escort to the departure gate. If you or someone in your group needs that level of support, it is worth discussing at the very start of the planning process. It is something I can arrange as part of putting your trip together, so that everything is confirmed before you travel rather than sorted on the day.

Travel should be possible for everyone, and these schemes are a reminder that the industry, at its best, is working towards that. Knowing what is available before you fly means you can decide how much or how little support suits you. If you have questions about making any part of a journey work well for you or someone travelling with you, it is always worth raising at the start of the planning process.