Airlines

Airline Introduces Child-Free Zones On Its long haul flights

Corendon Airlines is the first European carrier to offer a child-free zone on its planes. Beginning in November, the airline’s flights between Amsterdam and the Caribbean island of Curaçao will operate in the new “Only Adult” zone, which is only available to passengers over the age of 16.

Beginning in November, the airline’s flights between Amsterdam and the Caribbean island of Curaçao will operate in the new “Only Adult” zone, which is only available to passengers over the age of 16.

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With 93 seats, or roughly 20% of the aircraft’s total 432 seats, the adult section will be fairly enormous. It will be fascinating to watch how many people pay an extra €45 each way to sit there since the seats in this area will be the same as those throughout the rest of the aircraft.

Atilay Uslu, the founder of Corendon, said, We constantly work to meet the wide range of needs of our passengers on our flights. We are honoured to have introduced the Only Adult zone first on a Dutch airline, as it is designed to accommodate passengers looking for a little more peace and quiet while flying. Additionally, we think that by providing this service, parents who are taking a trip with young kids will benefit since they will be able to relax and enjoy the flight without worrying about their small ones making a little more noise.

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Child-free zones are already available on other foreign airlines. AirAsia X, a Malaysian airline, introduced a “Quiet Zone” in 2013, prohibiting passengers under the age of 12 from sitting in the first seven rows of the economy. In the same year, the Singapore-based Scoot airline introduced “Scoot in Silence,” which also restricted children under the age of 12 from an area up front.

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Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.