The number of unaccompanied minors, or UMs, travelling through Swiss airports has increased by 3 to 4% over the past year, with up to 200 of them recorded on a single day.
With globalisation, decentralised family structures, higher rates of divorce and increasingly affordable travelling options – sometimes flights are cheaper than planes – it should come as no surprise that more children are flying alone.
Whether for familial reasons, such as parents residing in different cities or to attend boarding schools or holiday camps, these young children depend on the airlines they fly with. Swiss International Air Lines, who partner with Swissport to provide care for UMs throughout their journey, have reported a significant increase in the number of unaccompanied children, aged 5 to 12, with a staggering 12,000 young solo flyers in 2024.
The trend has been noted across all major airports. Geneva recorded more than 12,500 UMs (a 4% increase), Zürich 12,000 (also up 4%) and Basel with 900 (a 3% increase). Zürich, the 18th busiest airport in Europe saw 31.2 million passengers through its terminals in 2024. On average, it handles 30–35 UMs per day, with peaks during school holidays. On July 7, the airport saw a record with 192 minors travelling alone.
Andreas Keller, Managing Director Switzerland & France at Swissport, attributes the rise to growing international mobility, ‘especially in cities with diverse, global workforces like Zürich, Basel, and Geneva, [where] more children are flying alone to visit family members who live far apart’.
What is required and what is provided to these young travellers by Swiss?
‘Ensuring their well-being and safety on the ground has always been a top priority for Swissport and its airline partners,’according to Keller.
Swissport provides comprehensive support from check-in to arrival. At the check-in counter, children are handed over to ground staff, who escort them through security and boarding. On board, the children are assigned preselected seats, often with care given to who sits next to them – and flight attendants will keep an eye on them throughout the flight. A meal and age-appropriate toys are provided, but Swissport recommends bringing favourite snacks and toys. Upon arrival, ground staff will greet them and guide them through border control and baggage claim before handing them over to an authorised guardian.
The UM service incurs an additional cost, usually added to the standard ticket fare. On Swiss flights, this supplement is about CHF 60 to CHF 90 (€65 to €97) per route, depending on the destination. The service is mandatory until 12 and available up to age 17, offering reassurance to teenagers who do not feel comfortable flying alone – or their parents.
Parents are encouraged to ensure their children carry all the required documents including IDs, consent forms and the contact details of the authorised recipients. In addition, Swissport recommends booking the UM service in advance and preparing the children for the experience to prevent stress and anxiety at the moment of separation.
Swissport is not alone offering such services. Most major airlines provide UM assistance, each with its own fees and benefits. Emirates, for instance offers a superb children’s lounge. Some carriers allow for parents to escort their child to the gate others, and all airlines require parents to remain at the airport until the flight has taken off.
Some airlines do not offer the services at all: British Airways discontinued its service in 2016, and most low-cost carriers do not offer it. Children under 14 (Wizz) or 16 (RyanAir and EasyJet) are not allowed to fly alone on these airlines.
