Reports of unruly passenger incidents on board aircraft increased in 2015, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Some 10,854 unruly passenger incidents were reported to IATA by airlines worldwide last year. This equates to one incident for every 1205 flights, an increase from the 9,316 incidents reported in 2014 (or one incident for every 1282 flights).
Most incidents involved verbal abuse, failure to follow lawful crew instructions and other forms of anti-social behaviour. About a tenth (11pc) of reports indicated physical aggression towards passengers or crew or damage to the aircraft. Alcohol or drug intoxication was identified as a factor in 23pc of cases, though in most instances these were consumed prior to boarding or from personal supply without knowledge of the crew.
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s Director General and CEO, said: “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. But we cannot do it alone. That’s why we are encouraging more governments to ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014.”
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 – none from Europe or the Americas. More are needed for a consistent global approach, said de Juniac.
Also in 2014 the airline industry set out core principles for what the IATA terms a balanced, multi-stakeholder strategy for tackling unruly behaviour, 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 a code of practice pioneered in the UK, which includes a focus on prevention of intoxication and excessive drinking before boarding. 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’.
Evidence from an initiative by Monarch Airlines at London’s Gatwick Airport has shown instances of disruptive behavior can be halved with this pro-active approach before passengers’ board. The industry believes that adopting this cooperative voluntary approach is preferable to heavy-handed regulation and licensing.
Alexandre de Juniac added: “There is no easy answer to stem the rise in reported unruly behavior. We need a balanced solution in which all stakeholders can collaborate. The industry’s core principles can help to manage the small percentage of passengers who abuse alcohol. And it must be balanced with efforts by governments taking advantage of all their deterrence mechanisms, including those provided through the Montreal Protocol 14.”
IATA has submitted a Working Paper to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 39th Assembly calling on states to expedite the ratification of MP14. The association complains that some unruly passengers don’t face sanctions because of doubts over jurisdictions. Of some 50 IATA member airlines surveyed in 2013, over 60 per cent indicated lack of jurisdiction as a key reason for failure to prosecute unruly passengers at foreign destinations. In other cases, some countries lack specific provisions in their relevant laws to allow for the arrest and prosecution of such passengers, even when jurisdiction is not an issue. MP14 would make the country that the aircraft is heading for the jurisdiction. As airlines usually have to bear the costs incurred, MP14 would let them seek compensation for their costs.
