In the recently held 70th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), IATA members unanimously passed a resolution focused on effectively deterring and managing the issue of unruly behavior of air passengers.
In the resolution, IATA members prompted government and industry to join hands to develop a balanced set of measures for addressing the problem of unruly air passenger, including disturbing order, committing physical assault or violating crew instructions during the flight.
According to Tony Tyler, the director general of IATA, “This resolution confirms the determination of airlines to defend the rights of their passengers and crew. Everybody on board is entitled to enjoy a journey free from abusive or other unacceptable behaviour. Many airlines have trained both ground staff and cabin crew in procedures, not only to manage incidents of unruly behaviour but also in measures to prevent them. But a robust solution needs alignment among airlines, airports, and governments.”
In 2013 alone, some 8,000 cases of unruly passenger behavior were reported by airlines to IATA.