Department for Transport Discusses National Blacklist for Disruptive Airline Passengers This Month
The UK government is considering a proposal to establish a national blacklist for air passengers who exhibit disruptive behaviour, potentially barring them from all airlines. Officials from the Department for Transport are scheduled to engage with airline industry representatives this month to outline the practicalities of such a scheme.
Addressing Persistent Disruptions
The proposal seeks to enable airlines to share information on individuals who cause disturbances, drunken incidents, or other problematic conduct. Currently, a passenger banned by one airline can circumvent the restriction by booking with another carrier. A government source indicated that antisocial behaviour on flights is “totally unacceptable,” posing risks to passenger and crew safety and disrupting holidays.
While the initiative would not necessitate new legislation, its implementation faces challenges concerning existing data protection regulations, specifically GDPR. The current framework prohibits the sharing of passenger details among airlines, which allows banned individuals to book alternative flights. The Department for Transport aims to address this issue and “crack down on people who persistently cause chaos.”
Industry Support and Notable Incidents
Airlines UK, the industry's representative body, has expressed support for the concept and committed to collaborating with the government on its development. A spokesperson for Airlines UK described the creation of a national ban list as an “important next step” to prevent a small minority from disrupting air travel for the majority.
The issue of disruptive passengers has led to criminal prosecutions in severe instances. In April, Stephen Blofield, 61, received a 10-month prison sentence after his drunken behaviour forced a Ryanair pilot to abort a landing during a flight from Krakow to Bristol. Earlier in February, Jet2 issued lifetime bans to two passengers following a mid-air brawl on a flight from Turkey to Manchester, which necessitated an emergency landing in Brussels and led to arrests for intentional assault and battery.
