Family air travel

Airlines can use the size of the A380 aircraft to solve a perennial travel conundrum

An Emirates Airlines A380 at Gatwick International Airport. Courtesy Gatwick Airport Limited

As business-class travel continues to set new comfort levels for air travel, the situation of families travelling with children has come into sharp focus. As The National reported yesterday, some business-class passengers feel that the experience is best when younger children aren’t present in the forward cabin. Regardless of where you fall on this prickly debate, airlines have an opportunity to revolutionise family air travel by taking advantage of the size of modern aircraft.

With a capacity of up to 853 passengers, the Airbus A380 could be configured with a premium cabin just for families. Parents would be free to let their children be, well, children, while business and first-class travellers could enjoy their journey in relative peace. With the world’s largest fleet of A380 aircraft, Emirates is well placed to take the initiative in this area. It may just start a trend that could spread throughout the industry, striking the right balance for all passengers on board a flight.