Flying In Peace: An Airline Pioneers Adults-Only Travel Zones
The desire for a quieter, more peaceful flight experience is hardly new. In fact, recent data reveals that almost 60% of American adults would welcome child-free areas on airplanes and trains. This preference is likely why the aviation industry is steadily moving towards offering more customized experiences for passengers.
One carrier at the forefront of this trend is Corendon Airlines, a Turkish-Dutch airline, which is initiating an "Only Adult" zone on their flights between Amsterdam and the Caribbean island of Curaçao. This unique offering is set to debut on November 3. Designed to provide an oasis of calm, this new section will be strategically situated at the front of the Airbus A350-900 aircraft and will comprise 93 seats, reserved exclusively for passengers aged 16 and over. To ensure the tranquility of the zone, walls and curtains will segregate it from other sections of the plane.
Opting for this adults-only area will incur an additional fee of €45 (around $49). For passengers desiring more legroom, nine extra-large seats are available at a higher fee of €100 (approximately $108).
The creation of an adults-only section is not just a strategic business move but also an extension of Corendon's philosophy, which is already evident in its adults-only hotels in vacation hotspots like Curaçao, Bodrum, and Ibiza. The aim is to offer more than just a point-to-point journey; it's about delivering an experience tailored to the needs of passengers seeking tranquility.
Corendon Airlines also plans to maintain sections designated for families, thus making the flight experience more enjoyable for parents with young children. By creating a separate space for adults, the airline believes parents can travel without concern about their children causing disruptions.
Although Corendon Airlines may be setting a precedent in the European market, the concept of adults-only zones is not novel in Asia. Carriers such as Scoot, AirAsia X, and Malaysia Airlines have already introduced similar features. Scoot offers "Scoot-in-Silence" cabins on its 787 flights, accessible only to travelers over the age of 12. AirAsia X has designated "Quiet Zones" on its A330 long-haul flights for passengers above the age of 12, and Malaysia Airlines has introduced child-free areas in some of its coach sections while banning infants from first-class.
Clearly, the industry is paying heed to the rising demand for more tailored travel experiences, especially those that focus on peace and quiet. Corendon Airlines' adults-only section is just the latest evolution in this ever-changing landscape.
