For the second summer in a row, those traveling from the UK’s airports are set to be warned of the cost of disruptive behaviour at the airport or on a flight.
The newly launched ‘One Too Many’ campaign will once again remind passengers of the serious consequences of disruptive activity, and reinforce the UK Aviation Industry Code of Practice on Disruptive Passengers.
Passengers will see warnings about disruptive behaviour posted on digital display screens, in retail and food and drink outlets, and via a targeted social media campaign, which last year reached over eight million passengers across Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.
The warnings will remind passengers that the penalties can range from being denied boarding, fines of up to £80,000 (US$100,850) or jail for the most serious offences.
The partners behind the campaign include the UK Travel Retail Forum (UKTRF), the Airports Operators Association (AOA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and Airlines UK (AUK). The participating airports are the Manchester Airport Group, AGS Airports, Heathrow, Belfast International, Liverpool John Lennon, Leeds Bradford, Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle and Gatwick, in many cases complementing their own initiatives to mitigate disruptive passenger incidents.
Positive signs have been recorded at a national and local level since last year’s campaign kicked off. In 2018, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) figures showed that the number of disruptive passenger incidents had dropped slightly from 417 to 413 year-on-year, despite the number of passengers of departing passengers from the UK’s airports rising by 2.7% in 2017.
Some regional leisure routes, however, have seen an increase in disruptive behavior, and with 31% of reported incidents explicitly linked to alcohol in 2017, the campaign seeks to make clear that it has no place in the aviation sector.
Baroness Vere said, “The vast majority of passengers enjoy themselves responsibly, but there are a small minority that can make flying unpleasant or unsafe for others. We are clear this will not be tolerated and perpetrators risk being denied boarding, fined, or given a two- year prison sentence.
“It is great to see the industry coming together for this campaign to help ensure flying is safe and enjoyable for everyone”