Airlines get tough on bad behaviour

Tony Tyler wants governments to back the plan. Photo / AP

Disruptions by passengers often fuelled by alcohol getting worse, says industry body.

Airline chiefs have voted to support tough measures to deal with the growing problem of out-of-control passengers, who are often fuelled by excess alcohol.

International Air Transport Association delegates voted at its annual meeting to unanimously adopt a resolution that calls on governments and industry to work together on measures to deter and manage unruly air passengers.

Tim Colehan, IATA's assistant director of external affairs, said at the meeting in Doha the problem was getting worse.

Since 2007 there had been 28,000 cases of unruly passenger behaviour, including physical assaults, disturbing good order on board or failing to follow lawful crew instructions.

"It's a safety issue clearly but it also affects the travel plans and the travel experience of passengers and it causes operational disruption at significant cost to member airlines," Colehan said.

"Alcohol is one of the triggers that have been identified. Clearly what airlines can't control is what passengers have consumed before they go on board the aircraft or what they've brought on in terms of duty free without the knowledge of the crew."

Airlines had developed extensive training so crew are serving alcohol responsibly and not adding to the problem, Colehan said.

Other causes of bad behaviour include irritation with other passengers, frustration with rules such as smoking bans or use of electronic devices or emotional triggers originating before a flight.

IATA director-general Tony Tyler said the resolution confirmed the determination of airlines to defend the rights of their passengers and crew.

"Everybody on board is entitled to enjoy a journey free from abusive or other unacceptable behaviour. Many airlines have trained both ground staff and cabin crew in procedures not only to manage incidents of unruly behaviour but also in measures to prevent them."

The adoption of the meeting resolution follows a conference called by the International Civil Aviation Organisation at which governments agreed to modernise and strengthen the nearly 50-year-old Tokyo Convention.

The result, known as the Montreal Protocol, provides a more practically effective deterrent to unruly behaviour by extending the legal jurisdiction for such events to the territory in which the aircraft lands. "Now, governments must ratify what they have agreed to," Tyler said.

It wants governments and airlines to raise awareness of the consequences of unruly behaviour and airport bars and restaurants to implement procedures that could help to prevent such behaviour on flights.