Indian budget airline IndiGo has introduced child free zones on its aircraft, raising the prospect that other carriers could follow suit.
The airline is one of the world’s largest low-cost carriers and operates 818 daily flights to more than 40 destinations.
The new “quiet zone” will see children under the age of 12 banned from eight rows of seats. The move was introduced to allow corporate travellers some peace and quiet.
The airline said: “Keeping in mind the comfort and convenience of all passengers, row numbers one to four and 11 to 14 are generally kept as a Quiet Zone on IndiGo flights.”
IndiGo is thought to be the first major carrier to implement such a policy although some other carrier in Asia, like Singapore’s Scoot have offered paid-for child free rows.
The Times claims child-free zones on aircraft would be popular with travellers, although notes no western airline has yet gone down that route.
The paper said British Airways told it there are no plans to introduce child-free zones on its aircraft.
A spokesman said: “British Airways is a family-friendly airline and we ensure families are boarded first and children served first during the flight.”