A recent study by the ADAC on tourism development in 2025 highlights a significant obstacle for family travel: Around 63 percent of the parents surveyed state that the stress of arrival and departure is a major reason against air travel.
Long waiting times at the terminals are considered problematic by 57 percent of participants, while 40 percent complain about a lack of adequate entertainment options for children. Within the industry, this is leading to an increased focus on family-friendly services to ensure customer satisfaction in this price-sensitive but high-volume segment.
In international competition, Turkish Airlines, in particular, positions itself as a provider of stress-free long-haul flights via its hub in Istanbul. Istanbul Airport was recently awarded the title of the world's most family-friendly airport, a distinction attributable to investments in specialized infrastructure. This includes play areas spanning more than 700 square meters throughout the terminal, as well as dedicated fast-track lanes at security and passport control, known as "Family First Lanes." These measures aim to minimize the physical strain on families during layovers and to constructively utilize the natural urge to move among younger passengers.
Additional market analyses show that airlines are increasingly relying on so-called stopover programs to increase the attractiveness of long-haul flights. Free hotel stays for longer layovers – with Turkish Airlines, this applies to layovers of 20 hours or more – help to break up travel time. Passengers are increasingly taking advantage of these offers to split their flight into two legs, which is particularly helpful for those traveling with young children. In addition, guided short programs offer the opportunity to visit cities like Istanbul without any organizational effort on the part of the passengers before continuing their journey to one of the more than 130 countries served.
On board aircraft, the standard for entertaining young passengers has also evolved. In addition to special children's menus and toy sets, leading carriers rely on comprehensive digital in-flight entertainment systems, which are regularly evaluated by industry organizations such as APEX. Combined with operational benefits like priority boarding for families and the provision of bassinets on long-haul flights, efforts are being made to enhance the travel experience even before arrival at the destination. Furthermore, the strategic distribution of departure airports across a wide area, for example at ten locations in Germany, reduces travel time to the airport and thus contributes to minimizing initial travel stress.