Airlines' ban on men sitting with children 'may be unlawful'

Airlines which do not allow men to sit next to unaccompanied children - apparently over fears of abuse – could be guilty of unlawful discrimination, New Zealand’s Human Rights Commission said today.

The policy of Air New Zealand and Australia’s Qantas Airways came to light when Auckland father-of-two Mark Worsley said he was asked to move on a Qantas flight when an unaccompanied child was seated next to him.