The Air Fair

With unfavourable balance sheets and rising pink slips,all might not be well in the high skies but even in the time of distress the airline sector is giving umpteen reasons for the little ones to smile.

With unfavourable balance sheets and rising pink slips,all might not be well in the high skies but even in the time of distress the airline sector is giving umpteen reasons for the little ones to smile. If some are offering them free tickets to accompany parents overseas,others are designing activity kits to keep them occupied during flights,and special meals are being prepared with their diet requirements in mind.

While Emirates has a Kids Go Free package in which a child under 16 years can travel free to Dubai with two adults,Cathay Pacific has launched a Buy Two Get One Free offer to Hong Kong. On the purchase of two airline tickets to Hong Kong before June 30,(price Rs 41,380 for economy class from Delhi),the third ticket comes free and so does a 3day/ 2night hotel accommodation,three Hong Kong Disneyland Park tickets and park meal tickets. The fun ride begins before landing in Hong Kong as children are handed Disney Kits complete with games,books and stationary when still on board.

On the domestic front,Disney characters find place on the Kingfisher merchandise produced in association with Walt Disney under the Little Wings programme. It is our effort to connect better with young guests and make them feel at home, says Prakash Mirpuri,spokesperson of Kingfisher Airlines,as he runs through details of the in-flight magazine published for children. Along with trivia on Disney,there are popular characters like Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh on colouring pages and pull-out posters.

The Cartoon Network enthusiasts,meanwhile,have goodies to look forward to when booking on Singapore Airlines. The activity pack handed to children below 12 on its flights include Powerpuff Girls and Ben 10 crayon pack and art book,phone pouch,keychain wallet and photo frame,and the in-flight television has a cartoon channel and multi-player games like Pokemon and Super Mario.

The special service for the young ones extends to the meals as well,as most airlines have a separate menu for kiddies. Cathay Pacific makes a distinction between infants and grown-ups. The youngsters are served strained meat,vegetable,dessert and juice,and the slightly older ones can enjoy hamburgers,sausages and fish fingers prepared according to specific recipes by the catering department of the airline.

Lufthansa Airlines has roped in German celebrity television chef Sarah Wiener to prepare a menu for children that will be introduced in July. Low on carbohydrate and sugar,it will be made according to specifications by dieticians. With an average of 11 lakh children and 2 lakh babies flying with Lufthansa each year,the airline also has a club,named JetFriends,for fliers aged two to 17 years. The online social network on its webpage allows members to interact and sections like Terminal give an insight into technical concepts related to aviation,and Beyond Borders provides information on various cultures and interesting travel destinations. The airline understands the need of travelling families. Children and their parents are valuable customers. Their loyalty is important, says Axel Hilgers,director,South Asia,Lufthansa.

Mirpuri agrees. Children are major influencers in their parents travel especially when flying on vacation. We focus on kids for the pester power that they exert on our mainstream guests, he adds,as he readies to initiate more tie-ups with childrens brands and prepares a shortlist of movies that will soon be screened on the Kingfisher in-flight entertainment system.

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