Virgin Atlantic has introduced a new collection of dementia-friendly short films to its inflight entertainment system, extending its commitment to inclusive travel.
The airline has once again partnered with the Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF) following a successful debut last summer. The nine films in the collection are carefully chosen to support passengers living with dementia and their travelling companions, with features such as simple storylines, soothing soundscapes and familiar imagery designed to spark memory and connection.
Sharon Noyau, Virgin Atlantic’s inflight entertainment content manager, said: “Our customers have told us how meaningful it is to have content that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of cognitive ability. We’re proud to lead the way in inclusive inflight entertainment.”
Among the titles are Call of the Cranes, an experimental dance piece set in the Finnish countryside, and Treasure, an animated short about a metal detectorist’s search in the Shropshire Marshes.
Samantha Moore, director of Treasure, welcomed the initiative: “My mum had early onset dementia, and our experience was that she retained a lot of emotional intelligence, despite losing so much. Music, images, colour, and texture remained potent connectors between us, and I hope that these films will similarly connect with a curious and friendly audience.”
The dementia-friendly film collection is part of Virgin Atlantic’s Hidden Disabilities programme, launched in 2019. The scheme supports travellers with non-visible conditions including dementia, autism, hearing loss and anxiety.
Passengers can pre-arrange tailored assistance at the airport and on board, or display the Virgin Atlantic Hidden Disabilities symbol to discreetly request additional help from staff.
The airline says the films are designed not just to provide calm viewing, but to create opportunities for connection and enjoyment for those who may otherwise find traditional inflight entertainment difficult to follow.