Travel Confidently MSP Education Center opens

A unique facility opened on Monday (May 23) inside MSP Airport, equipped with a mock 42-seat aircraft cabin that will be used for air travel-related training. 

Located near Terminal 1's Gate C16, the mock cabin – which is part of the Travel Confidently MSP Education Center – is designed for a variety of uses. 

• The Navigating MSP program – which offers free practice runs through the airport for children and adults who might benefit from a pre-flight experience – will utilize the cabin
• Service animals can be trained at the center to practice boarding and travel procedures with their owners or trainers
• Wheelchair service providers and airline cabin crews can be trained in the use of aisle chairs for boarding or de-boarding passengers
• MSP's firefighters and police can use the space to train for onboard emergencies

At the grand opening of the center, Rick King, chair of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, noted that the education center promotes travel equity by helping remove barriers associated with air travel. He also thanked Delta Air Lines for its donation of the aircraft cabin, which was moved into the terminal piece by piece.

Airport Foundation MSP also played a key role in the new education center, bringing in Juxtaposition Arts to create artwork for the plane cabin and new facility. Juxtaposition is a North Minneapolis-based art and design center staffed by teens.

The opening of the center was well-attended by local media and broadly shared through many outlets. As of Thursday (May 26), the event had attracted 237 "media impressions," meaning 237 million people had read, viewed or heard news about the center.