Kids Get Crafty at 30,000FT

easyJet launches ‘AirCraft’ - a new initiative designed to get children creative onboard flights over the school holidays

• easyJet is encouraging young flyers to get creative onboard flights
• The airline’s ‘AirCraft’ initiative will see free arts materials provided onboard during the autumn school holidays to get imaginations flying and keep them entertained in flight
• Art Attack presenter Neil Buchanan is spearheading the campaign as easyJet’s ‘Artist in Residence’
• Creative kits will be onboard over 160 easyJet planes flying from the UK across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, from now until the end of October
• Art tutorials created by Neil Buchanan are also now available online on easyJet’s YouTube channel
• Launch follows research from the airline that only 36% of children today say they draw for fun outside of school hours even though 84% say they want to do more art in their free time

Airline easyJet has announced the launch of ‘AirCraft’, a new arts and craft initiative designed to encourage children to get creative on board flights during their Autumn school holidays.

Creative kits including pencils and drawing sheets will be onboard over 160 planes, on thousands of flights from the UK across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, from now until the end of October.

The new campaign is being spearheaded by Art Attack presenter and co-creator Neil Buchanan who has been announced as easyJet’s ‘Artist in Residence’.

As part of his residency, Buchanan has also recorded how-to video tutorials for children, providing top tips on how to draw and use their imagination to create their own travel-inspired artwork.

The children’s TV presenter is also hosting live art classes for families flying with easyJet in the easyJet ‘Gateway’ lounge at London Gatwick, in partnership with No1 Lounges, on October 24th which will be free to attend for easyJet customers travelling with children aged 12 and under.*

The ‘AirCraft’ initiative has been launched following new research from the airline, which shows that British children crave more opportunity to get creative in their free time.

A poll of 2,000 British school-aged children and their parents reveals only 36% of children say they draw or paint for fun outside of school hours.

Of those children surveyed, only 47% regularly pick up a pen and pencil to draw in their free time and on average, children said they spend only 1-2 hours in a whole week drawing, colouring in or painting.

Despite this, over half of kids (54%) would rather choose artistic and creative activities over extra screen time, according to the study and 82% would like to spend more time drawing together with their family or friends.
A recent study from University of Durham’s Commission on Creativity and Education Studies has shown that drawing, colouring and painting not only have numerous developmental benefits such as supporting communications skills and managing emotional states, but also encourages children to develop and explore their imagination.**

77% of children surveyed for the airline’s study said that art is one of their favourite subjects at school and over three quarters (76%) said they want to do something creative for a job when they are older.
And, while 59% of children crave the ability to be more arty, they say they lack confidence to know how to draw.

According to recent data from the Fabian Society, more than two-thirds (68%) of primary teachers say there is less arts education now than in 2010. The 2019 report also found that almost half (49%) of primary teachers felt the quality of arts provision had worsened since 2010.***

easyJet’s research also revealed almost nine in 10 children (89%) would love the opportunity to try out arts and crafts to stay entertained onboard a plane when they fly on holiday.

Almost all (92%) parents surveyed say they would love the opportunity to engage more in artistic activities with their kids, with a further 72% admitting they would like their children to be more creative but don’t know how to teach them.

Over half (54%) of parents spend between 30 minutes to two hours a week drawing with children, whereas 25% are not able to find the time at all to engage in arts and crafts with their children during the week.
The poll also revealed 81% of parents worry over how much screen time their children get, with 97% of parents wanting their children to spend more time being creative than looking at a screen.

‘AirCraft’ will encourage kids to put away the tablets on flights and get creative on board.

Speaking about taking part in the campaign, Neil Buchanan said:
“It’s been a blast getting my sweater back on to be easyJet’s artist in residence for this campaign! Art is fundamental for kids, and what better way to get your creative juices flowing than when you’re jetting off on holiday? I can’t wait to see the amazing art that everyone creates on board!”

Robert Birge, easyJet’s Chief Customer Officer, said:
“We’re always looking at ways to make travel easy and enjoyable for families when they fly on their holidays with us, so we’re delighted to be providing arty activities onboard and at the airport to encourage kids get crafty this autumn. We’ve loved having Neil as our artist in residence to help bring the joy of creativity as well as all of its wider benefits to our younger flyers.”

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyJet.com or follow @easyJet_Press

Notes to Editors:
*Terms and conditions apply. Visit mediacentre.easyJet.com where full details will be provided.  
**Research conducted by Durham University - https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/creativitycommission/DurhamReport.pdf  
*** https://fabians.org.uk/primary-teachers-reveal-a-huge-decline-in-arts-education-since-2010/

About easyJet:
easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 96 million passengers in 2019 – more than 16 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour’s drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £14m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

The airline takes sustainability seriously having joined the UN-backed Race to Zero in November 2021. easyJet has recently published its roadmap to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a focus on new technology and the ultimate ambition to achieve zero carbon emission flying across its entire fleet, which the airline is working on together with its partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Wright Electric. The roadmap also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology. Additionally, it includes an interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035. Since 2000, over a 20-year period, the airline has already reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third through continued fleet renewal, efficient operations and aiming to fill most of its seats.