More effective deterrents are needed to curb the increasing number of cases of unruly behavior by airline passengers according to the industry’s leading association.
Last year there were 10,854 incidents.
This equates to one every 1,205 flights, an increase from the 9,316 incidents in 2014 (or one incident for every 1,282 flights.
However between 2007 and 2015 there were 49,084 or one every 1,613 flights.
The majority of incidents involved verbal abuse, failure to follow lawful crew instructions and other forms of anti-social behavior according to the International Air Transport Association.
A significant proportion (11%) of reports says IATA indicated physical aggression towards passengers or crew or damage to the aircraft. Alcohol or drug intoxication was identified as a factor in 23% of cases, though in the vast majority of instances these were consumed prior to boarding or from personal supply without knowledge of the crew.
IATA’s Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said that "unruly and disruptive behavior is simply not acceptable.”
“The anti-social behavior of a tiny minority of customers can have unpleasant consequences for the safety and comfort of all on board. The increase in reported incidents tells us that more effective deterrents are needed.”
“Airlines and airports are guided by core principles developed in 2014 to help prevent and manage such incidents. Be we cannot do it alone. That’s why we are encouraging more governments to ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
The Tokyo Convention was modernized with the Montreal Protocol 2014, closing gaps in the international legal framework dealing with unruly passengers. To date, six states have ratified the Protocol. "More are needed in order to have a consistent global approach to this issue," said de Juniac.
In 2014 the airline industry set out core principles for a balanced, multi-stakeholder strategy for tackling unruly behavior, based around enhancing the international deterrent and more effective prevention and management of incidents.
In some countries there has been a focus on the role of alcohol as a trigger for disruptive behavior. Airlines already have strong guidelines and crew training on the responsible provision of alcohol. IATA is supporting initiatives, such as the code of practice pioneered in the UK, which includes a focus on prevention of intoxication and excessive drinking prior to boarding.
IATA says that staff in airport bars and duty-free shops must be trained to serve alcohol responsibly and there is a need to avoid offers that encourage so-called ‘binge drinking’.
According to IATA evidence from an initiative by Monarch Airlines at London’s Gatwick Airport has shown instances of disruptive behavior can be cut 50% with this pro-active approach before passengers’ board.
Australia is one of the worst countries for unruly behavior with 383 cases in 2013 which is four times the rate of the US, although Australia has only 1/14th the traffic.
Binge drinking is a major factor in air rage incidents in Australia and in 2009 Qantas was forced to ban spirits and full-strength beer on flights in Western Australia.
