A brand new Quiet Room has been developed in an area in the terminal away from the bustle of the main departure lounge, alongside which the first sensory pod of its kind at a UK airport is now available for people who need to step away from noise and sensory overload.
The launch of the new facilities comes during Neurodiversity Celebration Week, which aims to recognise and celebrate the strengths of people who are neurodiverse, as well as challenge preconceptions of what they can or cannot achieve.
The Quiet Room and sensory pod enhance the airport’s award-winning Assisted Travel service, which provides support for any customer who needs help as they travel through the airport. Serving 100,000 customers for the first time in 2025, it is a popular and highly rated service that is seeing a significant increase in requests from people with neurodivergent conditions.
As part of the Assisted Travel service, East Midlands Airport already had Quiet Rooms in its check-in hall and departure lounge, but the room in the departure lounge is being redeveloped as a children’s activity space, enabling the move to create a new Quiet Room in an area which can also accommodate the new sensory pod. The Quiet Room offers a variety of seating options in comfortable surroundings close to boarding gates.
The pod is fully wheelchair accessible, with an electrically assisted door and acoustic insulation designed to reduce surrounding noise to levels comparable to a quiet bedroom. Its glass frontage allows users to maintain a visual connection with the external environment, and a foldable bench is provided so a parent or carer can also sit in the pod. The pod also includes adjustable lighting and user-controlled ventilation. In addition, sensory equipment is available based on advice from occupational therapists.
The pod, branded as the CalmPod, has been developed and supplied by East Midlands Airport partner Oliveti Group, who carried out a survey of 203 people, including neurodivergent individuals. More than a third of respondents said a lack of options for quiet spaces was a barrier to going out to a busy place, and half said a dedicated quiet space would improve their experience and better support their family when visiting an airport.
East Midlands Airport’s Director of Customer Service and Planning, Mike Grimes, said: “We are proud that, as part of our ongoing commitment to providing an effortless travel experience for all our customers, East Midlands Airport is the first to introduce a dedicated soundproof sensory pod of this type in the UK.
“Alongside a larger, modern Quiet Room in a less busy part of the departure lounge, these facilities enhance our offer of Assisted Travel to customers who need a helping hand. We know that, for many, this can make the difference between being able to choose to go on holiday or not.”
Senior Project Manager at the airport, Roxanne Butler, oversaw the project and has a seven-year-old son, Ollie, with autism who could benefit from the new facilities.
She said: “It’s been interesting to work on this project and to help find ways to combine everyone’s needs, since everyone with autism has different needs and requirements.
“Having the Quiet Room next door to the sensory pod provides safe spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the departure lounge, where people such as Ollie, who might be struggling, can recompose themselves. It’s great to have the option of these facilities so you can try that method to help regulate their emotions in a safe environment.”
Managing Director at Oliveti Group, Gian Oliveti, said: “At Oliveti, we strongly believe in creating a space that works for everyone; whether it’s a local shopping centre or a busy airport, all spaces should be inclusive and thoughtfully designed. Airports and most other high-traffic public spaces can be overwhelming for neurodivergent individuals and their families, which can create a real barrier to travelling or doing even the most basic things.
“We conducted a survey to understand the struggles that people with neurodivergent needs experience on a day-to-day basis. The survey highlighted the need for the integration of dedicated quiet spaces within most public environments. We’re proud to have developed and supplied the first dedicated CalmPod sensory pod at East Midlands Airport, with its design informed by guidance from multiple occupational therapists to ensure an optimal sensory experience.
“We hope this is just the beginning. CalmPods are already finding a home in schools, workplaces, and public settings across the UK, and this installation shows what’s possible when an airport takes inclusion seriously.”
Photos show teams from East Midlands Airport and Oliveti Group cutting a ribbon to mark the opening of the new pod and Quiet Room; the interior of the new CalmPod; and project manager Roxanne Butler with her son Ollie (7), Reuben (5), and husband Tom.
