Abuse fear forces airline child move

AIR FRANCE has moved to protect children travelling alone by putting them in a block of seats by themselves, rather than having them sitting alongside strangers.

The move comes after complaints, mainly on flights to America, of youngsters being molested.

However, cabin crew unions fear it could put the children in more danger: previous rules said children should be put alongside adults to get help putting on oxygen masks in the event of cabin depressurisation.

Now an adult sitting across the aisle will help youngsters.

The Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile has backed the changes, which will apply only if the plane is not fully booked.

British Airways has also changed its policy on unaccompanied minors and is moving them to a special area on its planes.

Previously it had banned male adults from sitting next to the children, but this was changed after a passenger sued.

The man claimed he had been humiliated and treated as a “potential child molester” when asked to move away from a youngster.

BA, which says it carries tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors every year, admitted sex discrimination and paid €4,167 in damages and costs.