easyJet launches ‘airplane mode' to help families reconnect this summer
easyJet has joined forces with writer, activist, presenter and mum Katie Piper and child development expert Tanith Carey to launch 'Airplane Mode' – a new initiative which includes a holiday card game to get families talking from the moment they start their holiday and help combat the issues that matter to young people and parents today.
The survey of 2,000 British parents and children aged 11 to 17 commissioned by easyJet found over two-thirds of parents (69%) say they are concerned about the effects of social media and phone screen time on their children – with 71% of parents admitting they probably also spend too much time on their phone and 60% too much time on social media themselves.
The research also revealed nearly a quarter (24%) of children admit to knowing more about their favourite influencers than their parents.
However, nearly seven in ten (69%) parents say holidays are the number one opportunity to connect with their children.
Holidays emerged as an increasing priority for parents when it comes to family wellbeing. Families average up to 2 holidays a year when children are between the ages of 6-18 and nearly half (48%) plan to take more family holidays this year than last, citing spending quality time together (52%), wellbeing (42%) and reconnecting with family and friends (40%) as the top drivers for doing so.
As part of the Airplane Mode initiative, the airline has launched a family card game packed full of conversation-sparking questions spanning categories such as people, places, work and school, as well as charade-style challenges and prompts to share advice and meaningful experiences with each other.
The card game will be available for free for families jetting off over the summer holidays, with thousands being handed out at airports across the UK from 9 July (while stocks last).
The research also revealed 85% of families admit that being less connected means they worry they're not having enough conversations around the important issues facing young people today together.
More than two in five (45%) children say they want to be more present with their families, and 68% say that spending more time with their family helps their mood and wellbeing.
As part of the campaign, Katie Piper, popular wellness advocates and content creators Jaycie Fry and Will Ainslie and easyJet pilots and cabin crew have released a series of voice notes reflecting on their own experiences of tackling the challenge of disconnection.
They also provide advice on some of the issues that affect young people today, like self-worth, positive body image and positive masculinity – topics that parents say they are anxious to support them in.
Kenton Jarvis, easyJet's CEO, said: 'At easyJet, we're passionate about creating family-friendly initiatives that make flying with us both fun and easier for parents.
'Our research shows the summer holidays are one of the few times in the year when families are together without the usual distractions, making it the perfect opportunity to enjoy some well-earned quality time and put down tablets or phones.
'With our Airplane Mode game, we hope the thousands of families flying with us can take a moment to relax, reconnect and make meaningful memories from the moment they board.'
Katie Piper said: 'easyJet's Airplane Mode initiative is a great reminder for families to use the summer holidays as a chance to reconnect and get to know each other even better. It's so important to make time to embrace real connections, for self-reflection and to experience the joy of being present with our families – but that's not easy!
'Alongside the card game, which is a playful way to kick start those conversations, I hope hearing the reflections of how others have connected about the more difficult topics in our lives encourages everyone to dig deep and open those conversations as a family too.'
Child development expert and parenting author Tanith Carey, who has helped easyJet develop their Airplane Mode initiative, said: 'Giving a child a phone by the time they reach secondary school is now considered a rite of passage for most parents in the UK. As adults, having our phones with us has now also become pretty much essential when we travel.
'However, as this new research shows, it's all too easy to slip into letting phones interrupt the vital connection we have with our kids. easyJet's Airplane Mode initiative is a brilliant way for families to not only reverse this slide, but also to learn more about each other and strengthen their bond. Playing card games like this one as a family on holiday sends the message that spending quality time with your children is going to be a priority for you from the outset of your holiday – and helps create a sense of togetherness from the start.'
Tanith Carey also shared her advice about how to connect together further as a family this summer holiday:
Asking questions builds powerful connections: Simply by asking questions to your family that you may not have thought to ask before will help build powerful connections that brings you closer. You're inviting everyone to express themselves freely and, by listening to what they say without judgment, they feel important and valued in your eyes.
Games can help teach valuable life skills: Asking questions of children can help them put their thoughts and feelings into words but also imagine the world from someone else's perspective – which is a valuable life skill. Let kids answer at their own pace, without hurrying. If they can't think of a response in the moment, say you'd love to hear their answer once they've had some time to think about it. This will help them deepen their curiosity about themselves and develop their self-awareness.
The importance of sharing: As parents, you can set a strong example about how to share for your children. Using games like this on holiday and telling them about your own thoughts and experiences not only helps your children learn from your example, but also helps your children perhaps see you in a new light and is a fun reminder that you're human too!
Kicking off the holiday with a family activity: Proactively starting your trip together with a joint activity, such as playing a game together, sends the message that spending quality time together will be a priority from the outset – and helps create a sense of togetherness from the start.
Holidays are when family precious memories are made: Often the best and most long-lasting family memories are made on holiday. Use that knowledge to remind you to make every moment count. Try maximising your real-life experiences by putting away your phone on your break unless you need it for your travel plans or taking photos and videos.
Influencers Jaycie Fry and Will Ainslie have shared their thoughts on the importance on connecting with family and friends.
Jaycie reflects on the importance of talking as a family about things that can sometimes seem difficult and calls on young people to remember there's a version of you that overcomes any hardship. Will shares his thoughts on family connection and being present with your family. He also reflects on positive masculinity, believing that there is so much strength in being open and so much power in being real.
Over 6,000 packs of the easyJet Airplane Mode game will be handed out to customers at UK airports including London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast this summer (while stocks last).
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Scottish Sun
20 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit holiday airline warns of flight delays over summer and blames French for hold ups
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FLIGHTS this summer will suffer massive delays because of French hold ups, a Brit airline boss has warned. The dismal forecast comes as holidaymakers continue to wrestle with disrupted flight schedules often leaving them stuck for hours in terminals and on planes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Brits should expect long delays this summer, an airline boss has warned Credit: Getty Chief Commercial Officer at Easyjet Sophie Dekkers blamed the expected summer chaos on French air traffic control's poor planning and staff shortages, saying the country lacks capacity to cope with the traffic. She told The Times: 'The biggest issue we've got [in France] is resourcing and the actual planning of the airspace. "They don't have the people on the ground to be able to cope with the amount of traffic that's covering their airspace and they don't have the capacity to cope with the traffic.' With 70 per cent of short-haul flights going in and out of the UK using French airpsace, the budget airline is heavily reliant on France's air traffic control. So, staffing issues or poor planning could be disastrous for the airline's flight schedule. As well as affecting flights to France, departures to some of Brits' favourite holiday hotspots will also be hit such as, Spain, Greece, Italy and Croatia. Most aircrafts will do multiple flights to different destinations each day, so one of the biggest issues this summer will be the "knock-on impact" on the rest of the networks, Ms Dekkers explained. She said: "when people say, 'why is my London-Scotland flight delayed by French traffic control?' "It's because previously that flight was scheduled to do London to Spain and back, and then London to Scotland and back." Issues relating to air traffic control have caused 49 per cent of delays for easyJet since the start of the holiday season (since Easter). Flight Chaos in Europe: French ATC Strikes Disrupt Travel for Thousands This is a 77 per cent hike compared with the same period last year. And with 20 per cent of European airspace still shut, due to the war in Ukraine, delays and scheduling problems have only intensified, she added. 'Severe disruption' EU officials told the Financial Times that the air traffic control system was operating at capacity due to staff shortages and increased demand following the Covid-19 pandemic. Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. They added that last year was the worst summer yet for delays and cancellations and "this year will be very similar". Approximately 37,000 flights occur in Europe on the busiest days of the season - but this is the limit of what air traffic controllers can currently manage. Strikes, such as those recently in France, have also made the situation worse. Eurocontrol, the organisation responsible for air traffic control in Europe, said flights were "impacted by air traffic control (ATC) industrial action between 2-5 July 2025, leading to severe disruption for passengers, airlines and airports." In total, there were 3,343 fewer flights to and from French airports compared to the previous week - all of which were cancelled due to the strike. Europe currently also has a reduced airspace due to the war in Ukraine. The EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas explained that this, paired with the shortage of controllers, "threatens to overburden the air network and disappoint passengers". He saod airports are now more congested and "Europe cannot afford chaos in the skies". Travel advice With a summer of further disruptions expected, The Sun's head of travel Lisa Minot has advised what you should do if travelling this summer. She said: "Whatever happens if it is [your flight] delayed or cancelled for reasons outside of the the airlines control, then unfortunately there is no compensation due. "But the airline does have a duty of care to look after you. "If your flight is cancelled and it is the airline's fault ... then you could be due compensation. "It could be anything up to £520." Last month Ryanair also said that this summer would be the worst summer for flight delays and cancellations. The airline revealed the worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays and this included the UK as the fifth worst. Ryanair said that the European Commission and European governments "have taken no action to fix their shoddy ATC services and ATC delays will now be even worse in summer 2025". Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, also said that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer". The airline's 'League of Delays' revealed that France and Spain have been the most impacted so far this year, with 15,634 and 11,576 flights delayed respectively. The airline has also claimed that 90 per cent of their flight cancellations during the French ATC strikes, could have been avoided if overflights over France were allowed to take place. Many airlines are now calling on Brussels to complete the 'Single European Sky' project which would allow airlines to fly the most direct route possible within the EU. This would mean that airlines would not follow diversions via several points, but instead fly straight to a destination. Last year, air traffic was up by five per cent compared to 2023, with over a third of flights delayed by more than 15minutes on arrival, according to Eurocontrol. Overall, delays averaged around 21.4minutes per flight.
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Brit holiday airline warns of flight delays over summer and blames French for hold ups
FLIGHTS this summer will suffer massive delays because of French hold ups, a Brit airline boss has warned. The dismal forecast comes as holidaymakers continue to wrestle with disrupted flight schedules often leaving them stuck for hours in terminals and on planes. 1 Chief Commercial Officer at Easyjet Sophie Dekkers blamed the expected summer chaos on French air traffic control's poor planning and staff shortages, saying the country lacks capacity to cope with the traffic. She told The Times: 'The biggest issue we've got [in France] is resourcing and the actual planning of the airspace. "They don't have the people on the ground to be able to cope with the amount of traffic that's covering their airspace and they don't have the capacity to cope with the traffic.' With 70 per cent of short-haul flights going in and out of the UK using French airpsace, the budget airline is heavily reliant on France's air traffic control. So, staffing issues or poor planning could be disastrous for the airline's flight schedule. As well as affecting flights to France, departures to some of Brits' favourite holiday hotspots will also be hit such as, Spain, Greece, Italy and Croatia. Most aircrafts will do multiple flights to different destinations each day, so one of the biggest issues this summer will be the "knock-on impact" on the rest of the networks, Ms Dekkers explained. She said: "when people say, 'why is my London-Scotland flight delayed by French traffic control?' "It's because previously that flight was scheduled to do London to Spain and back, and then London to Scotland and back." Issues relating to air traffic control have caused 49 per cent of delays for easyJet since the start of the holiday season (since Easter). Flight Chaos in Europe: French ATC Strikes Disrupt Travel for Thousands This is a 77 per cent hike compared with the same period last year. And with 20 per cent of European airspace still shut, due to the war in Ukraine, delays and scheduling problems have only intensified, she added. 'Severe disruption' EU officials told the Financial Times that the air traffic control system was operating at capacity due to staff shortages and increased demand following the Covid-19 pandemic. Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. They added that last year was the worst summer yet for delays and cancellations and "this year will be very similar". Approximately 37,000 flights occur in Europe on the busiest days of the season - but this is the limit of what air traffic controllers can currently manage. Strikes, such as those recently in France, have also made the situation worse. Eurocontrol, the organisation responsible for air traffic control in Europe, said flights were "impacted by air traffic control (ATC) industrial action between 2-5 July 2025, leading to severe disruption for passengers, airlines and airports." In total, there were 3,343 fewer flights to and from French airports compared to the previous week - all of which were cancelled due to the strike. Europe currently also has a reduced airspace due to the war in Ukraine. The EU transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas explained that this, paired with the shortage of controllers, "threatens to overburden the air network and disappoint passengers". He saod airports are now more congested and "Europe cannot afford chaos in the skies". Travel advice With a summer of further disruptions expected, The Sun's head of travel Lisa Minot has advised what you should do if travelling this summer. She said: "Whatever happens if it is [your flight] delayed or cancelled for reasons outside of the the airlines control, then unfortunately there is no compensation due. "But the airline does have a duty of care to look after you. "If your flight is cancelled and it is the airline's fault ... then you could be due compensation. "It could be anything up to £520." Last month Ryanair also said that this summer would be the worst summer for flight delays and cancellations. The airline revealed the worst air traffic control centres (ATCs) for delays and this included the UK as the fifth worst. Ryanair said that the European Commission and European governments "have taken no action to fix their shoddy ATC services and ATC delays will now be even worse in summer 2025". Micheal O'Leary, the airline's CEO, also said that if staff shortages and ATC issues are not sorted, there will be "record ATC flight delays this summer". The airline's 'League of Delays' revealed that France and Spain have been the most impacted so far this year, with 15,634 and 11,576 flights delayed respectively. The airline has also claimed that 90 per cent of their flight cancellations during the French ATC strikes, could have been avoided if overflights over France were allowed to take place. Many airlines are now calling on Brussels to complete the 'Single European Sky' project which would allow airlines to fly the most direct route possible within the EU. This would mean that airlines would not follow diversions via several points, but instead fly straight to a destination. Last year, air traffic was up by five per cent compared to 2023, with over a third of flights delayed by more than 15minutes on arrival, according to Eurocontrol. Overall, delays averaged around 21.4minutes per flight.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
My miserable 12½ hour US train journey at Club World Cup with £6 purple sludge ‘porridge' made me dream of British rail
Scroll down to unearth my horror journey through the US COULDN'T CHOO-CHOO My miserable 12½ hour US train journey at Club World Cup with £6 purple sludge 'porridge' made me dream of British rail Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) STEP AWAY from the Amtrak oatmeal. American long distance trains are bad enough but the food they serve is even worse. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 SunSport's Andy Dillon opens up on his treacherous 12-and-a-half hour journey across the United States 8 American long distance trains are bad enough but the food they serve is even worse Credit: Getty 8 Chelsea face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final in New Jersey Credit: AFP The 'porridge' they serve makes the infamous British Rail pork pie of the 1970s look like the top of the menu fare from a Michelin Star restaurant. And it's not cheap either. Around £6 per pot of purple sludge that when mixed with a jet of boiling hot water forms an indigo mess that is as arduous on the stomach as the painfully slow services that run between some cities. You may discover this next year when the USA hosts the real World Cup - a coming together of 48 nations competing for the biggest prize in international football. Fans and players will be criss-crossing this vast country in many ways. For Chelsea during the Club World Cup this summer it has been first class travel for a whole month - flights and five star hotels. Cole Palmer will hopefully be following similar pathways next summer with England. But wherever way you travel, trekking around this massive country to compete in or even watch a football tournament is wearing. 8 Dillon forked out £6 on awful oatmeal on the train America has hosted a World Cup before. In 1994, when then Ireland boss Jack Charlton warned that someone could die from the heat. Temperatures touching 40 degrees here over the past weeks, Chelsea vice-captain Enzo Fernandez admitting he felt dizzy during a game and had to lie down. Juventus players asking to come off to escape the heat. The world is warmer now than it was back in the 1990s and will be even warmer next year. Palmer has talked of the two hour flights everywhere draining his legs and his soul. Chelsea's poster boy player turned up at the Club World Cup wearing a PPE mask over his face because he says he 'doesn't like the smell of planes'. 8 Chelsea's poster boy player turned up at the Club World Cup wearing a PPE mask over his face 8 Cole Palmer said the travel across America has drained his soul Credit: Getty 8 Palmer and PSG star Ousmane Dembele of PSG posed for snaps during a visit to the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center on Saturday Credit: Getty Unfortunately, he will have to go through it all again because Americans love flying and driving. Back in 1987 there was a hit movie - Planes, Trains and Automobiles - a comic tale of two stranded men trying to make it home for Christmas by any means when snow puts paid to their hopes of taking a jet home. It's planes and cars for the people over here. The trains are a joke. At least the one that took 12½ hours to carry me just 550 miles from Charlotte to Philadelphia to catch up with the Chelsea charabanc as they moved from city to city playing games. You can just about take a similar journey by rail in the UK but you might fall off the end of our little country into the sea at the end. But it wouldn't take more than half a day to do it either. It would take around half that time. Amtrak's number 80 service from North Carolina to Pennsylvania is an experience. Good or bad is debatable. They know that the 6.45am departure time means passengers are going to get hungry pretty quickly, and they have a captive market for the stuff they pass off as food as you chug along at no more than 40mph with a stinky old diesel engine dragging the carriages behind it like some sad old pack donkey. And once you reach Washington, brace yourself for a half hour wait while the diesel loco is uncoupled and the electric one hooked up - only then can you speed along at a decent pace. 8 Fans have been warned to prepare for frequent delays at the 2026 World Cup as extreme weather wreaks havoc at the Club World Cup Chelsea began their Club World Cup campaign in Atlanta and were so convinced they would win their group that they earmarked Miami as their next training base. It didn't quite work out that way and they ended as runners up. But still they chose sunny Florida and glamorous South Beach as a temporary HQ. This meant flying to their last 16 game in Charlotte and then back up north to Philly for their quarter final win over Palmeiras. From there's been onwards to New York, The Big Apple, and while it's luxury all the way for the players, they are still getting fed up with being cooped up in hotel rooms and strange beds. Downtime for them has been ping pong, basketball, dinners together and walks. Only last week French defender Malo Gusto walked right past me in Greenwich Village, engaged with a couple of pals and having his photo taken the whole time. The thing with America is that it doesn't need to sell itself. It's the richest and most entertaining country in the world. And it knows it. Unsurprisingly, being run by someone like Donald Trump means the US is wrapped up in itself. It's not been difficult finding a local who has no clue that the Club World Cup is actually happening within their borders. There won't be so much ignorance next year at the real World Cup but don't bet against it.
