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Selecting the ideal seat on an aircraft has the power to genuinely transform a routine trip into an amazing one.
One of the largest airlines in India, IndiGo, has introduced a new feature that enables female passengers to choose their seats on flights by seeing where other women are seated, making travel for women more comfortable and safe.
The decision came after several incidents of harassment made headlines in recent months.
Here’s all we know about it.
The female-friendly seat selection
The new feature is designed especially for Passenger Name Records (PNR) including female travellers, both in solo and family bookings.
The statement says that female travellers checking in online for their flights would be able to choose the female-friendly option on a pilot basis from the low-cost carrier.
IndiGo said in a statement, “IndiGo is proud to announce the introduction of a new feature that aims to make the travel experience more comfortable for our female passengers. This has been introduced basis market research, and is currently in pilot mode aligning with our #GirlPower ethos.”
“We are committed to providing an unparalleled travel experience for all our passengers, and this new feature is just one of the many steps we are taking towards achieving that goal,” the airline added.
The airline, however, did not specify a reason for announcing the new feature.
Also read: Peeing, pooping, smoking on planes: Meet the worst flyers of 2023 so far
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAssaults against women on flights
Varied attacks against women and children on commercial flights are frequently reported worldwide.
On 26 November 2022, a “drunk” man identified as Shankar Mishra – a Mumbai businessman – urinated on a female senior citizen onboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi. Although the incident took place in November, Air India filed a police complaint only on 4 January 2023 against the offender, NDTV reported citing the FIR.
Another similar incident that occurred in 2022 caused an uproar as it came to light last year. A male flyer, who was in an inebriated state, allegedly “urinated” on a blanket of a woman on a Paris-New Delhi Air India flight on 6 December.
In July 2023, while flying on IndiGo from Delhi to Mumbai, a professor on board sexually harassed a doctor, as per News18.
In September 2023, a woman was groped on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Guwahati.
“Sexual assault aboard aircraft – which usually takes the form of unwanted touching – is a felony that can land offenders in prison,” according to CNN citing a US report published in April.
“Typically, men are the perpetrators, and women and unaccompanied minors are the victims.”
Introducing business class
IndiGo has also announced plans to introduce business class in flights this year to provide more options for passengers amid rising economic growth.
The low-cost airline will launch a “tailor-made business product,” the details of which will be unveiled around August that will also mark the 18th anniversary of the carrier. The latest announcement also comes less than a month after the profitable carrier said it would buy 30 wide-body aircraft, according to PTI.
IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers added, “Over the past 18 years, India’s and IndiGo’s growth stories have been closely interlinked. We believe as India gears up to become the third largest economy in the world, it’s our privilege to provide the New India even more options to choose from as they travel business.”
Based on data given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), IndiGo is the largest air carrier in India, holding a 60.5 per cent domestic market share in 2023.
With inputs from agencies
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