The first floor restaurant at Luxembourg Airport holds a special magic. Through its expansive windows, the world of aviation unfolds in real time—planes taxiing along the tarmac and aircraft ascending into the sky. For most travelers, this might be a pleasant backdrop to a meal. For Jeff, it’s pure wonder.
At 21, Jeff experiences the world differently. As someone on the autism spectrum who is semi-verbal, he communicates in his own way and Jana, his sister, understands him. And nothing captivates him quite like airplanes.
A Shared Ritual
“We have our routine,” explains Jana, Jeff’s sister and frequent companion on these airport visits. “We’ll head to the first floor restaurant, find our spot by the windows, and just watch. He becomes completely absorbed—tracking each plane’s movement and anticipating takeoffs.”
These aren’t trips born of travel necessity. They’re pilgrimages to a place where Jeff finds genuine happiness. The structured environment of the airport, the predictable patterns of aircraft movement, and the technical precision of aviation seem to speak to something deep within him.
“I think he understands the complexity of what’s happening out there,” Jana reflects.
Communication Beyond Words
While Jeff may not express his enthusiasm in conventional ways, his body language tells the complete story. His posture straightens when a particularly impressive aircraft approaches. His hands move in subtle gestures that seem to trace flight paths.
“I genuinely think he has no favorite planes, but the bigger they are, the cooler,” Jana notes with a smile.
The Airport as Sanctuary
The first floor at Luxembourg Airport restaurant offers the perfect vantage point—close enough to appreciate the details, yet removed from the bustle that might overwhelm someone with sensory sensitivities.
“The staff there have gotten to know us and are welcoming of us,” Jana shares.
This acceptance matters more than most people realize. For individuals with hidden disabilities, finding spaces where they can simply exist—where their different way of engaging with the world is acknowledged and respected—can be transformative.
Making Spaces Welcoming Of Everyone
The awareness campaign Luxembourg Airport does and the implementation of the Hidden Disabilities sunflower program reminds us, inclusion often comes down to understanding and that we have the moral obligation to create spaces that are welcoming of everyone. For Jeff, Luxembourg Airport already provides much of what he needs and likes.
“I’d love to see more places recognize that some people engage differently,” Jana suggests. “Maybe it’s someone who needs more time to process information, or someone who finds joy in aspects of an experience that others overlook. When spaces can accommodate these differences, everyone benefits.”
The Gift of Simple Joy
Perhaps most remarkable about Jeff’s airport visits is their reminder that happiness doesn’t require complexity. In a world that often values constant motion and achievement, his contentment in simply observing—in being present to witness the marvel of flight—offers a profound lesson.
“He’s found something that brings him pure joy,” Jana concludes. “No agenda, no expectations beyond the simple pleasure of watching planes take off and land. There’s something beautiful about that kind of uncomplicated happiness. And I am inspired by him. I am the person I am today because of being his sister.”
