Mamas & Papas Airo vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2: Which Travel Stroller Wins?

By BabyTravel UK Editorial Team · Last updated July 2026

The Mamas & Papas Airo and Bugaboo Butterfly 2 are premium compact pushchairs with one-hand folds, lie-flat seats and dimensions aimed at family travel. Airo costs less and can be carried like a rucksack. Butterfly 2 is slightly lighter, has larger wheels with full suspension and carries up to 8kg beneath the seat.

Butterfly 2 is our winner when the pushchair will be used every day as well as on holiday. Airo offers better value for frequent carrying and occasional travel. If you are comparing the whole Mamas & Papas range, start with our pushchair buying hub.

Best for carrying

Mamas & Papas Airo

7.6kg · 55 x 45 x 25cm folded · Rucksack straps · Birth to 22kg

Check Airo price

Best everyday all-rounder

Bugaboo Butterfly 2

7.3kg · 44.8 x 24.5 x 55.5cm folded · Full suspension · 8kg basket

Check Butterfly 2 price

Airo vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2 specifications

Folded size and cabin suitability

Airo folds to 55 x 45 x 25cm. Butterfly 2 measures 44.8 x 24.5 x 55.5cm, which is effectively the same broad shape with a few millimetres distributed differently. Butterfly 2 is 0.5cm longer but 0.5cm shallower and slightly narrower.

Those tiny differences rarely decide airline acceptance. Several carriers use allowances below both folded sizes, while others accept a compact stroller as baby equipment rather than ordinary cabin baggage. Bugaboo describes Butterfly 2 as IATA compatible, but airlines still apply their own limits and can require gate checking when lockers are full.

Use our airline stroller checker with the exact folded numbers. A travel bag is useful even when the pushchair is expected in the cabin, because a route or aircraft change can move it to the hold.

Weight and carrying

Butterfly 2 is lighter by 0.3kg. That difference is too small to outweigh carrying design: Airo can sit across both shoulders like a rucksack, which spreads the weight and leaves both hands available. It also has a conventional shoulder-carry option for short distances.

Butterfly 2 has an integrated carry strap and its 7.3kg weight is manageable for station steps, boot loading and boarding. The folded pushchair sits closer to one side of the body, so Airo can feel more balanced during a long airport walk despite weighing slightly more.

Parents who regularly carry a child at the same time may prefer Airo. Parents who mostly lift the stroller for a few seconds will gain more from Butterfly 2's lower weight and faster self-standing fold.

One-hand fold and daily convenience

Both folds can be operated with one hand. Butterfly 2 closes in a quick single action and stands upright, making it easy to park beside a café table or hallway wall. Opening is just as fast once you are familiar with the release.

Airo also folds one handed and forms its distinctive compact rucksack shape. Converting it for carrying adds a small extra step, but that step pays off when the route includes stairs or a long walk without the child in the seat.

For repeated school-run, car and café folds, Butterfly 2 has the edge. For a station-to-airport journey where the folded stroller stays on your back, Airo's system is more useful.

Seat comfort and naps

Both current models have a lie-flat main seat suitable from birth and a 22kg child limit. Butterfly 2 also reaches a fully upright position and provides an adjustable footrest, giving toddlers a supported view rather than leaving them slightly reclined. A baby nest is sold separately for a more enclosed newborn setup.

Airo moves from upright to lie-flat and has a padded seat intended for the full stroller period. Its compact shape is comfortable for normal holiday use, although the Butterfly's roomier ergonomic seat, larger wheels and suspension make it the stronger choice for long daily naps.

A lie-flat stroller seat is different from a separate carrycot. If you expect frequent multi-hour newborn walks, compare both with a full travel system before making the compact stroller your only pram.

Ride quality and wheels

Butterfly 2 has larger wheels than the first Butterfly and full suspension across all four wheels. The 14.1cm front and 15.1cm rear wheels remain compact, but they deal more confidently with kerbs, patched pavements and long city days than many travel buggies.

Airo is happiest on airports, shops, smooth pavements and promenades. It can handle ordinary urban imperfections, but its main strengths are folding and carrying rather than rough-surface comfort. If the holiday includes cobbles or older European streets, Butterfly 2 gives the child and parent an easier ride.

Neither replaces a large all-terrain pushchair for repeated woodland tracks or deep gravel. The comparison concerns how well each compact design copes when a travel day moves beyond smooth terminal floors.

Basket and luggage capacity

Butterfly 2 carries up to 8kg beneath the seat and adds a pocket behind the seat. That is unusually useful for a compact stroller and can hold a changing bag, jackets and snacks without loading the handlebar. The open basket remains easy to reach while the seat is reclined.

Airo's basket is suitable for daily essentials but does not match the Butterfly's published load. Frequent travellers sometimes pack lightly enough that this makes little difference. Families using one stroller for shopping and full days out are more likely to appreciate the Butterfly capacity every week.

Car boots and storage at home

Both fit easily into most car boots compared with a full travel system, but their self-standing shapes use space slightly differently. Butterfly 2 can stand upright beside shopping or a suitcase, while Airo's fold is designed to move easily between a boot, footwell and luggage rack. The measurements are so close that the available space should decide rather than the product name.

At home, Butterfly 2 is convenient beside a hallway wall because it stands folded and opens quickly for daily use. Airo is easier to move upstairs or hang out of the way using its straps, provided the chosen storage point can safely take its weight. A narrow cupboard may need the handle and wheels positioned in one exact direction.

If a small car is driving the purchase, measure the boot with your normal changing bag and shopping already in place. Our compact stroller guide for small cars compares both shapes with lighter alternatives.

Newborn and car-seat options

Airo's lie-flat seat works from birth according to Mamas & Papas, keeping the setup simple. It is designed primarily as a self-contained compact stroller rather than a modular travel system with a carrycot.

Butterfly 2 also works from birth in the lie-flat seat and accepts the optional Bugaboo baby nest. Separate adaptors connect selected infant car seats for short transfers. Check the current compatibility list before assuming an existing car seat will fit.

Both are forward-facing in their main stroller configuration. Parents who want a young baby to face them should consider a reversible system such as Vardo or Ocarro 2, then decide whether a compact stroller is still needed later.

Price and value

Airo normally sits around £299 before discounts, while Butterfly 2 has a usual price around £435. Retailer promotions can narrow that gap considerably. Compare current colours and check whether the rain cover, bumper bar, travel bag or car-seat adaptors are included.

Airo earns its price through a compact fold and unusually practical carrying system. Butterfly 2 costs more because it combines travel dimensions with a better everyday ride, larger basket and more substantial seat. The premium is easiest to justify when it will replace a full-size pushchair rather than wait in a cupboard between holidays.

Which is better for trains and public transport?

Airo has the advantage when a journey includes stair-only stations or a long interchange. Wearing the folded stroller across both shoulders leaves your hands free for a child and luggage. The 55cm fold also slots neatly into many train luggage areas.

Butterfly 2 is better when the pushchair stays open for most of the journey. Its fast self-standing fold helps on a crowded train, while the suspension and basket make the walk at either end more comfortable. Our public-transport pushchair guide includes more lower-cost and reversible choices.

Which should you buy?

Buy Airo if you already have a larger everyday pram, travel often and expect to carry the stroller through airports or up stairs. Its rucksack design is the feature Butterfly 2 cannot match, and the lower price leaves room for a protective bag and other travel equipment. Read our complete Mamas & Papas Airo review for more detail.

Buy Butterfly 2 if this will be your main pushchair as well as your holiday stroller. The 8kg basket, larger wheels, full suspension and roomier seat improve ordinary weeks, not just travel days. Compare it with more premium compacts in our best travel stroller review.

FAQ

Which is lighter, Airo or Butterfly 2?

Butterfly 2 is lighter at 7.3kg. Airo weighs 7.6kg, although its rucksack straps can make that weight easier to carry for longer.

Which folds smaller?

The folds are extremely close. Airo is 55 x 45 x 25cm, while Butterfly 2 is 44.8 x 24.5 x 55.5cm.

Can Airo and Butterfly 2 go in an overhead locker?

Both are designed around common travel dimensions, but airline acceptance is never universal. Check all three folded measurements against the live carrier and fare rules.

Which is better for a newborn?

Both have a lie-flat seat listed from birth. Butterfly 2 also offers an optional baby nest and car-seat adaptors, while neither main seat is parent-facing.

Which has the better basket?

Butterfly 2 wins with an 8kg underseat allowance and a rear pocket. Airo carries ordinary essentials but is more focused on compact folding and hands-free transport.

Which is better for cobbled streets?

Butterfly 2 is the stronger choice because its larger wheels and full suspension reduce vibration. Very rough routes still suit a full-size all-terrain pushchair better.

Is Butterfly 2 worth more than Airo?

It is worth more when used daily because the ride, seat and storage are meaningfully better. Airo is better value as a second pushchair bought mainly for travel.

Does either pushchair have a bumper bar?

Package contents vary, and a bumper bar may be optional rather than included. Check the exact retailer listing and add the accessory cost before comparing totals.

Our verdict

Butterfly 2 wins as the more capable everyday pushchair that also travels well. Airo remains a smart purchase for parents who value hands-free carrying, a lower price and a compact second stroller more than a large basket or enhanced suspension.