For those who pray multiple times on a daily basis, long-haul flights can pose a challenge. After all, most modern airliners offer little space for the usual practice. Many Middle Eastern airlines have taken to creating dedicated prayer areas to tackle this, ensuring that their travelers can complete their prayers even while flying. Here's a look at which carriers offer this option and how it is made possible.

Saudia is a key example

The most prominent airline to feature a prayer space is Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. With much of its passenger base being the local Muslim population of the country, a prayer space can be an attractive feature for many of the airline's passengers. In the rear of all of its widebodies, Saudia has installed a prayer space.

The area is created by removing a section of economy seats ahead of the last galley in the center area. Some aircraft also feature a display pointing to find the Qibla, the direction of prayer for that moment. Larger aircraft can accommodate up to 10 passengers on the carpeted floor and feature curtains for privacy.

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Saudia is arguably the most notable airline for its use of the space in this way, and these dedicated prayer areas are available on its Airbus A330s, Boeing 777s, and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. However, the airline is not alone in this regard, and, indeed, there are other Middle Eastern carriers offering such areas as well.

Select planes only

Creating prayer areas onboard commercial aircraft generally requires the removal of at least six to nine seats. Most airlines are not too excited about losing out on revenue, so Emirates and Qatar Airways do not have prayer areas even on their largest A380s, combined with the more global nature of their passengers.

However, Abu Dhabi-based UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways does create a section for prayers on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A380s. Passengers will be offered a prayer mat and an area near the door that can be curtained off to pray. The screen also mentions the direction toward Mecca, similar to Saudia.

While not offering dedicated areas, Emirates has said that it is willing to provide spaces on the aircraft for those who wish to pray along with the basics needed. Qatar Airways instead asks passengers to pray from their seats while flying.

Other religious aspects

For Muslim passengers who are accustomed to praying every day, many airlines also offer some extra initiatives. You may have noticed, for example, that airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and more all have the direction and distance from Mecca conveniently located on their personal in-flight entertainment screens.

Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Saudia also recite a prayer before the safety presentation and departure, highlighting their national roots. While this might be surprising to some non-native passengers, this is common in many Muslim countries.

In 2019, Boeing designed a prayer area for its aircraft after repeated calls from Middle Eastern carriers. According to MENAFN, this would see using the two areas next to doors and adding a curtain to the section.

This area would then add custom lighting so passengers can request to use the space to pray while flying. This is similar to what Etihad offers on its planes and could be more widely adopted by airlines in the coming years.

Prayer rooms at airports are more commonly found

Away from aircraft themselves, many airports have multi-faith prayer rooms that passengers can access at all hours of the day. This allows for greater flexibility when it comes to personal worship practices while in transit. London Heathrow Airport (LHR), for example, has prayer rooms in all four of its active terminals.

Have you ever seen or used the prayer area while on a flight? Do you know of any other carriers that offer such spaces? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Source: London Heathrow Airport, MENAFN