According to the BBC, the initiative is being discussed amid a rise in incidents involving rowdy passengers at the height of the summer tourist season. These include incidents of drunken debauchery, crew abuse and violence on board – situations that airlines say are more common during peak travel periods.
The ban will extend to the entire airline market
Under the proposal, passengers caught up in serious misconduct could be placed on a single national database. This means that the flight ban would cease to be a localized decision by an individual airline and would extend to the entire market.
Currently, such restrictions operate in a fragmented manner: a passenger may be blocked from one carrier, but still be able to buy a ticket from another. Airlines believe that this reduces the effectiveness of penalties and allows violators to return to flights.
The government explains the idea with security issues.
“Everyone should be able to have a mug of beer at the airport, but antisocial behavior on board is absolutely unacceptable. It threatens the safety of passengers and crew and disrupts people’s long-awaited vacations,” said a government source quoted by the BBC.
Alcohol at airports – under question
The discussion of the initiative comes amid a wider debate in the aviation industry about the role of alcohol at airports. The occasion has been prompted by claims by carriers that a significant proportion of conflicts begin before boarding.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has previously called for restrictions on alcohol consumption at airports, claiming that his airline faces daily incidents that force it to change flight routes.
If the plan goes through, a national blacklist could become a joint system between the government and airlines. However, its implementation is complicated by current data protection rules, including GDPR regulations that restrict the sharing of personal information between carriers.
Nevertheless, industry body Airlines UK backed the initiative, saying the new measures would help protect passengers and crews from the “tiny minority” of offenders who spoil flights for the majority.
The UK Department for Transport plans to discuss the proposal with airlines in the near future.
