Plans to combat UK air rage

Unfortunately the British have a reputation — often unfairly — for drunkeness abroad, most notably in the cheaper coastal holiday resorts of Spain. However, it seems that the desire to misbehave is increasingly extending to before holidaymakers even arrive at the destination. Growing concern has led to UK government ministers considering plans to block passengers who have drunk too much in airports facing being banned from boarding flights. This follows a significant increase in “air rage” incidents, some of which have led to emergency landings. Some airlines have even resorted to restraining passengers with seatbelts and adhesive tape. CAA figures show 156 disruptive passenger incidents logged by British airlines so far this year, 114 cases in 2014, 85 in 2013, 47 in 2012 and just 39 in 2011. Even the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has found himself intervening when a drunken passenger verbally and physically attacked flight attendants on a flight from Malaysia in December 2014. A task force has been set up, initially meeting in July, with representatives from the UK police, the UK Border Force, the Department for Transport, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines and airports. New government guidelines may follow within months, although new legislation is unlikely to be required as airports and airlines already have extensive powers to deal with unruly passengers. Stricter limits could also be placed on the number of drinks provided in the air, while British passengers found drunk could be put on a blacklist barring them from flying with other domestic carriers. Stricter conditions may include tougher checks at boarding gates to identify potentially difficult passengers, or a restriction on the number of drinks permitted at airport bars and restaurants. Another possibility is for airport staff serving drinks informing airlines of any concerns about customers to help screen potentially rowdy passengers. CAA records include incidents of assaults on cabin crew, fighting, smoking in lavatories, stealing lifejackets, damaging tray tables, fighting and swearing. Recent incidents have included 14 passengers threatening the cabin crew, a passenger setting fire to a companion’s hair, another exposing themself to passengers and crew, a drunk women threatening to break the aircraft’s windows, passengers stealing from the aeroplane’s alcohol supply and one entering the flight deck.