Thug passengers ‘may very well be banned from flying on any airline’ below ‘blacklist’ plan
The UK Government is exploring a scheme to share information on disruptive airline passengers, which would allow carriers to choose whether to refuse to allow them on a future flight
Thuggish passengers could be completely banned from the skies under new plans (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Thuggish passengers could be completely banned from the skies under a dramatic new government “blacklist” plan. Holidaymakers who cause chaos mid-air face being blocked from booking with any airline if the radical new crackdown gets the green light.
Department for Transport and Home Office officials are understood to be drawing up plans for a massive data-sharing system to track rowdy flyers.
Under the early-stage proposals, airlines could be forced to report disruptive passengers to the UK Government. If that same troublemaker tries to check in for another flight later on, a major red flag would be sent to the airline.
While individual carriers would still have the final say on how to handle the warning, they would be given the power to completely refuse to fly them.
The no-nonsense move already has overwhelming support from the British public. A YouGov poll of 5,173 adults revealed that a whopping three-quarters of Brits want a database created to ban mid-air menaces from all flights.
As it stands, data protection laws mean airlines can’t easily share their “no-fly” lists. It means passenger barred by one airline can simply stroll over and book a seat with a rival carrier the very next day. However, the new plan could ground those disruptive passengers for good.
A government source said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but antisocial behaviour on flights is totally unacceptable. It threatens the safety of passengers and crew, and disrupts hard-earned holidays.
“There are already tough laws in place to deal with offences committed on flights, but we are exploring with industry how we can better address this issue, ensuring we crack down on people who persistently cause chaos. Everyone should be able to fly without fuss.”
Officials are due to meet with airlines later this month to discuss the proposed scheme.
Tim Alderslade, chief executive of industry body Airlines UK, said: “UK airlines have a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour.
“Additional measures for the most serious cases of disruption, including the creation of a national ban list, are an important next step in ensuring a tiny minority of passengers cannot disrupt air travel for the majority.
“We welcome the government’s support for further action and will work closely with ministers on delivering the right solutions.”
Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, said a minority of air travellers were increasingly taking airport drinking “too far”, which was “wreaking havoc for other passengers”.
He said: “When the stakes are so high and the risk to safety so great, it’s only right that the penalty for being drunk and disorderly on a flight matches the seriousness of the situation. It’s welcome then that the Government is proposing travel bans for the worst offenders.”
Passengers being drunk is a frequent cause of poor behaviour on aircraft. Being intoxicated on an aircraft is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and a two-year prison sentence.
Ryanair’s chief, Michael O’Leary, recently advocated for a ban on airports serving alcohol to passengers before early morning flights in an effort to minimise flight disruptions.
Mr O’Leary revealed that the airline is currently having to divert around one flight every day due to unruly behaviour onboard, a significant increase from one per week ten years ago.
