In a major crackdown on unruly passengers, US giant Delta Air Lines wants all airlines to share their banned passenger lists to wipe out unruly behavior which has soared in the US.
According to a report from CBS News "more than 1,600 people have been banned by Delta Air Lines since the federal government has required airplane passengers to wear masks."
The US Federal Aviation Administration has received 4,385 reports from airlines this year about unruly passengers, including 3,199 reports involving passengers refusing to comply with federal mask requirements.
CBS says that "representatives of the FAA met this week with representatives of the airlines to discuss ways to reduce unruly behavior, and asked the airlines to commit to more action."
CBS also reports that "airlines started enforcing federal mask mandates in June 2020, and the FAA implemented its zero-tolerance policy regarding unruly behavior in January. The agency has initiated 789 investigations into passengers so far in 2021, a sharp spike from the 183 investigations it initiated in 2020."
The FAA announced last month that it had requested more than a million dollars in fines this year as part of civil enforcement actions against unruly passengers. Passengers can appeal the fines.
Here is a list of the numbers of passengers banned:
According to the CBS report, there are now over 4000 people in the US on various airline banned lists but that number does not include those from American Airlines and Southwest airlines, as those companies do not release their data.
"We've also asked other airlines to share their "no-fly" list to further protect airline employees across the industry – something we know is top of mind for you as well. A list of banned customers doesn't work as well if that customer can fly with another airline," said a Delta Air Lines memo reviewed by CBS News that was sent to flight attendants.
The FAA announced last month that it had requested more than a million dollars in fines this year as part of civil enforcement actions against unruly passengers. Passengers can appeal the fines.
Here is a list of the numbers of passengers banned:
- Alaska: 538 since May 11, 2020
- Allegiant: 15 since July 2
- American: does not report
- Delta Air Lines: more than 1,200 since May 4, 2020
- Frontier: 830 since May 8, 2020
- Hawaiian: 106 since May 8, 2020
- JetBlue: 140 since May 4, 2020
- Spirit: 604 since May 11, 2020
- Southwest: does not report
- United: 750 since May 4, 2020
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