Aeroflot proposes tougher measures to deal with disruptive passengers

Aeroflot has set out proposals to give Russian airlines more power to deal with disruptive passengers, in line with leading global standards for deterring anti-social behavior on board aircraft.

Aeroflot’s proposals were supported by President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with the Group’s CEO, Vitaly Saveliev. During the meeting it was noted that the behavior of disruptive passengers presents a vital threat to flight safety.

Measures proposed by Aeroflot include reclassifying anti-social behavior on board aircraft as a criminal rather than administrative offence, significantly increasing the maximum applicable fines, and allowing the use of restraining devices for passengers who fail to heed verbal warnings. Airlines would also be permitted to maintain blacklists of passengers with poor track records and to refuse to allow them to purchase tickets.

As Russia’s air market has grown, so have the number of instances of anti-social behavior on board aircraft. Over the last decade Aeroflot has reported more than 3,000 cases of passengers being in breach of travel regulations, and anti-social behavior in extreme cases including physical attacks on flight crew.