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Is there any authority regulation which limits the maximum number of infants allowed on a flight?

Some airlines set a limit at 10% of total seats, some airlines have a different limit. Normally, the number of extra oxygen masks is much higher than 10%.

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  • $\begingroup$ You're specifically asking about lap children, right? Rather than include kids under 2 who have their own seat. $\endgroup$ – mkennedy Mar 4 at 19:26
  • $\begingroup$ Welcome to Aviation.SE! A good first question, if you haven’t already done so I would recommend taking the tour and reading the help center. $\endgroup$ – Notts90 Mar 6 at 8:53
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Since the question was only referring to infants, my answer treats them as a subgroup of SCPs (Special Categories of Passengers). SCPs are Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRMs), infants and unaccompanied children, deportees, inadmissible passengers, or prisoners in custody.

EASA's CRD containing the comments received to NPA 2014-01 has the following statement regarding SCP in chapter 2.5:

The Agency’s NPA did not establish a maximum number of SCPs on board an aircraft. The NPA proposed to clarify the existing AMC (AMC1 CAT.OP.MPA.155(b)) relating to the operator’s procedures that the number and subcategories of SCPs should not exceed the number of passengers capable of assisting them in case of an emergency.

In addition, the NPA proposed a new GM (GM4CAT.OP.MPA.155(b)) that clarifies that those passengers, who could assist the SCPs in case of an emergency, should not have another responsibility on board.

It's the closest I could find on this topic. Read the whole NPA, as it is a generally interesting read on SCP considerations (for example if using the word passengers or persons is more adequate to refer to the individuals on a plane).

Essentially, the CRD goes on stating that:

  • The AMC referring to operators’ procedures to establish the maximum number of SCPs has already been adopted by the Agency in 2012 and is based on the JAA Guidance Material.
  • Following the recommendations from the TÜV Rheinland study, the Agency does not propose any additional limits.
  • This CRD proposes a new GM (GM4 CAT.OP.MPA.155(b))stating that a passenger capable of assisting in case of an emergency means a passenger who is not an SCP and has no other role or private responsibility that would prevent him/her from assisting the SCP. For example, an adult travelling alone has no other role or private responsibility, unlike a family travelling with children.

In the US, I would assume that due to legal constraints originating on discriminatory aspects, there is also no hard limit as to how many infants are allowed on a flight, and the decision is left with the airline association and the NAA, with existing physical and safety constraints.

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    $\begingroup$ I know that SLC is Self-Loading Cargo. You define PRM can you also define SCP for those of us who are not pilots? $\endgroup$ – FreeMan Mar 6 at 14:44
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    $\begingroup$ @FreeMan: I've amended my answer with the spelled out acronym: SCP refers to Special Categories of Passengers. $\endgroup$ – Moreaki Mar 6 at 15:50
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Apart from oxygen masks...another consideration is the number of infant life-vest. Typically airlines will x number of infant life vest and the reservation system will not confirm infants above this number. There can be requests made and some airlines may load extra vests on demand. In my airline we typically see a spike in infants traveling during festivals so we increase the number of infant life vests on certain sectors from 10 to 15 or 20.

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