Paul Charles

Officials are considering measures that would allow UK airlines to block disruptive passengers with a history of serious misconduct from travelling, amid a sharp rise in onboard incidents since the pandemic

Ministers are exploring proposals that could result in persistent troublemakers being banned from future flights amid growing alarm over disruptive behaviour on aircraft.

Officials are weighing up a system that would enable airlines to identify passengers with a track record of serious misconduct and potentially deny them the ability to travel. Under the plans, which are still at an early stage of consideration, details of blacklisted passengers could be shared throughout the aviation industry.

Should someone attempt to book a flight after being added to the list, the airline or tour operator could receive notification and be given the choice to block the reservation, effectively grounding that individual indefinitely.

Civil liberties campaigners have, however, raised alarm about the proposals, cautioning they could set a “dangerous precedent” through the sharing of personal data and limitations on access to transport, reports the Express.

Currently, airlines have the power to ban passengers who have displayed violent or abusive conduct while travelling with them. Yet existing restrictions only extend to the specific carrier involved in the incident, meaning offenders can frequently sidestep penalties by simply booking with a different airline.

The primary hurdle facing any new system is current data protection law, which prohibits carriers from exchanging passenger details with one another, even where criminal offences have taken place.

Who is calling for some passengers to be banned from all flights for life?

Calls for stricter measures have grown louder following a string of high-profile mid-air incidents that have gone viral online, reports the Daily Mail. These have included episodes where cabin crew faced death threats and violent clashes erupted between passengers in aircraft aisles.

Such incidents are among hundreds logged annually and have often led to expensive flight diversions that wreck holidays and travel arrangements.

There appears to be widespread public backing for harsher punishments, with recent polling indicating most Britons support restrictions on passengers who commit serious misconduct while airborne.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has previously urged limits on airport alcohol sales, including curbs on early morning pints, in an effort to cut the number of disruptive passengers getting on planes.

Ministers aren’t attempting to stop travellers from having a drink before their flight. Rather, they’re hoping any future system would promote better conduct while helping to safeguard cabin crew, families and fellow passengers.

It’s understood the proposals are being worked on by the Home Office and Department for Transport but remain in the early stages and require additional consultation with the aviation sector. Any system would need to tackle existing privacy regulations, which currently stop airlines from sharing passenger data.

Ministers are expected to sit down with industry bosses later this month to thrash out the details of the plans. A government source said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy a pint at the airport, but anti-social behaviour on flights is totally unacceptable.

“It threatens the safety of passengers and crew and disrupts hard-earned holidays.

“There are already tough laws in place to deal with offences committed on flights, but we are exploring with industry how we can better address this issue, ensuring we crack down on people who persistently cause chaos. Everyone should be able to fly without fuss.”

The Department for Transport has also given its latest advice

People from the UK heading abroad for the Spring Bank Holiday are being given the latest advice on holidays amid growing fears over jet fuel shortages and flight disruption. Travel experts say flights are continuing to operate “as planned” despite airlines across Europe drawing up contingency measures following soaring fuel prices linked to conflict in the Middle East.

Concerns have grown after reports that some airlines are preparing for possible refuelling stops on long-haul routes if shortages worsen. German airline Lufthansa has reportedly already begun contingency planning after one of its flights was forced to divert for fuel during a recent journey to South Africa.

The airline has also cut thousands of flights from its wider summer schedule as fuel costs continue to rise. However, travel industry figures insist UK holidaymakers should not panic.

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association, said: “We really don’t want people worrying about their holidays; planes are taking off daily and people are continuing to get away on their holidays. The Government and airlines are clear that there isn’t a problem with fuel supply.

“If you have a holiday booked in for the coming months – including the May half term – we expect it to go ahead as planned.”

He added: “Whilst there have been reports about cancellations globally, these amount to less than one per cent of overall flights.”

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, around 13,000 flights worldwide have reportedly been cut during May. Munich and Istanbul are believed to be among the worst-affected destinations.

The Department for Transport has also said there is currently “no need” for travellers to change their plans. Officials say UK airlines buy fuel in advance and airports continue to maintain reserves to help prevent disruption.

Passengers are still being advised to check flight updates with airlines before travelling and ensure they have suitable travel insurance in place. Some 120 flights from the UK this month have been cancelled, new figures show, as jet fuel prices surge and fears of shortages grow.

Cirium said airlines have axed 120 of the 22,613 departures initially scheduled from UK airports in May, equivalent to 0.53%. The number of outbound flights planned for June is 36 lower than a week ago. This represents a 0.2% reduction and means capacity for the month has fallen by 7,972 seats.

The final week of May is a peak period for holidays as it is half-time at many schools. For all flights globally, some 13,005 planned for May were cancelled between April 10 and April 21, equivalent to 1.5%. That reduced capacity by almost two million seats.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said airlines are “assessing poor performance flights and consolidating or cancelling as required”.

She added that UK departures to popular summer hotspots “remain unaffected” and insisted “customers can continue to book with confidence”. Paul Charles, founder of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: “Airlines are now being forced to cut flights and make difficult decisions ahead of the peak season.

“It is better for them to cancel flights well in advance so that passengers are less inconvenienced than a last-minute change of plan. As the Iran conflict continues, there will need to be many more cancellations as the jet fuel supply is squeezed.”

Lufthansa’s airline group announced in April it would cancel 20,000 flights over the following six months to save fuel. Iran continues to have a stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a surge in oil prices and concerns of jet fuel shortages.

But on Sunday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said summer holiday plans will not face major disruption because of the latter. She revealed that more fuel has been imported from America, while refineries have upped their production.

The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together on to fewer planes to save fuel.