Airline becomes first in the world to let women choose not to sit next to men on flights

A low-cost airline in India has become the world's first aviation company to allow female travellers the option not to sit next to men on flights.

Travelling alone or being seated separately from friends can be pretty daunting for travellers, especially when you arrive at your seat to find that you'll be spending several hours sat in-between two complete strangers.

However travelling alone as a woman can also offer up a unique set of circumstances - which is why one airline in India has chosen to offer female travellers the option to be seated away from men should they wish.

Set to be introduced this August, budget carrier IndiGo will give female travellers the ability to see where other women are seated in the cabin (with their seats being displayed in pink) which allows them the option to sit away from men.

Meanwhile men will not being able to see the gender of a passenger seated next to them and will only be able to view which spots are available.

A statement confirming the move by a spokesperson at IndiGo airlines explained that the change would allow travelling to become 'more comfortable' for female passengers.

"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," a representative said in a statement.

"The feature offers visibility of seats booked by female passengers, only during web check-in. It is specifically tailored to PNRs with women travellers - solo as well as part of family bookings."

The carrier will become the first in the world to offer the option. (IDREES MOHAMMED/AFP via Getty Images)

They continued : "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 change will be initially introduced on a trial basis before being rolled out further across the airline.

The move is well intentioned on IndiGo's part - with research conducted by the FBI in 2022 pointing out that the majority of perpetrators behind sexual assault or harassment on flights are male - the decision has divided people online.

"How will the computer know the gender.. they trick," one person wrote on social media, while a second commented: "What if male use the feature to sit next to female. Instead of that auto assign seat next to female if she is travelling solo."

However the move has divided people online. (Getty Stock Images)

However Redditors were more receptive towards the move, with many users sharing how they've felt uncomfortable travelling as a woman.

"Yup it’s basically an acknowledgment of how widespread it is for men to be creepy everywhere. Embarrassing," one person commented.

"God, this is such good news. I always travel alone and my experience was terrible last time," a second added.