Smartavia at the 'People as People' festival
On April 5 the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve hosted the closing of the "People as People" charity festival — one of the largest inclusive events in Russia, bringing together families, specialists, and organizations that support people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Smartavia airline acted as a partner of the festival for the second year in a row. Participating in the event was a natural continuation of the carrier's social mission: to make air travel comfortable for every passenger without exception. The festival's premiere — sensory kits from Smartavia and the "Anton Is Here" foundation.
Right at the festival venue, Smartavia presented special sensory relief kits developed in collaboration with the foundation's experts. These kits help reduce stress and anxiety levels for people with autism during the flight. The kit includes a soft pop-it, an anatomical 3D sleep mask, and silicone earplugs — tools chosen by autistic individuals themselves through a survey and testing.
Young festival participants were awarded certificates for receiving such kits, as well as special "Hug Me" pillows created by Smartavia in collaboration with the "Anton Is Here" foundation.
How to get the kit on a Smartavia flight
By the end of 2026, the sensory relief kits will become a full-fledged part of the inclusive environment on Smartavia flights. Passengers with autism and their companions will be able to receive them for free by indicating the need for special service when booking a ticket.
Why this is important
According to the Russian Ministry of Health, over 1.2 million children and adults with ASD live in Russia. For many of them, air travel becomes a serious challenge due to sensory overload: noise, bright lights, and confined spaces. Together with the "Anton Is Here" foundation, Smartavia is consistently removing these barriers — from training flight attendants to providing special equipment on board.
Part of Smartavia's inclusive service
Participation in the "People as People" festival confirms: for Smartavia, inclusion is not a one-time initiative but a consistent service philosophy. The airline will continue to develop social initiatives to make travel accessible and comfortable for every passenger, regardless of their individual needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smartavia is launching a sensory relief kit for passengers with ASD. The kit was developed in collaboration with the "Anton Is Here" foundation.
For the second year in a row, Smartavia acted as a partner of the All-Russian inclusive festival in Tsaritsyno, presented certificates for sensory relief kits to young participants, and gave away "Hug Me" anti-stress pillows.
The kit includes: a pop-it, a 3D sleep mask, and earplugs. The sensory kit helps people with autism reduce stress during air travel.
You can get the kit for free by simply indicating the need when booking a ticket.
The kits will be available on all Smartavia flights for passengers who need sensory support during the flight.
