France is cracking down on unruly and disruptive passengers with new measures and penalties following a decree published on November 7.
According to the decree, disruptive passengers could be fined up to €10 000 (R200 000), or €20 000 (R400 000) for a repeat offence, if they:
- Use an electronic device when its use has been prohibited by the flight crew
- Hinder the performance of the safety duties of aircrew
- Refuse to comply with safety instructions given by the flight crew
Sanctions and penalties will be based on the seriousness of the offences and in the most serious cases, boarding bans for a period of up to four years could be implemented.
The provisions apply to flights operated by air carriers holding an operating licence issued by France. A specific database will be set up to allow carriers to report unruly behaviour, which will be monitored by the French Civil Aviation Authority.
The new measures are in addition to the possible criminal prosecution for the most serious offences, which can lead to up to five years in prison and a fine of €75 000 (R1,4 million).
