US EditionFrance Targets Unruly Air Passengers with Hefty Fines and Travel Bans
France enforces fines up to €20,000 and four-year flight bans to combat rising disruptive passenger incidents, with European reports of 200 to 500 monthly occurrences.
- Earlier this month, France published decree 2025-1063 in the Official Journal, which came into effect earlier this month and applies to all flights operated by air carriers holding a French operating licence.
- European agencies report rising monthly incident totals, with the European Aviation Safety Agency noting between 200 and 500 incidents monthly and IATA recording one incident every 395 flights in 2024, while officials said disruptive behaviour jeopardises flight safety and crew working conditions.
- The French Civil Aviation Authority will manage a new reporting database for operators holding a French operating licence, listing offences like electronic device use, obstruction, and refusal to comply, while criminal prosecution and courts handle serious penalties up to five years imprisonment and a €75,000 fine.
- The French Minister for Civil Aviation can impose fines up to 10,000 or 20,000 for repeat offenders, with passengers facing bans of up to four years.
- Amid Europe-wide efforts to curb antisocial behaviour, Ryanair sued a passenger for €15,000 earlier this year after a diversion affecting 160 passengers, while Simon Calder called steep fines a needed deterrent.
12 Articles
12 Articles
France hits disruptive air passengers with fines up to €20,000 and flight bans
France has implemented strict new rules for unruly passengers on flights. Fines can now reach twenty thousand Euros. Passengers may also face flight bans for up to four years. These measures aim to ensure safety and deter disruptive conduct. The French Civil Aviation Authority will manage a database of incidents.
Incidents caused by disruptive passengers are increasing like mushrooms after rain, and in France they have decided to crack down on flying troublemakers. The new decree came into force in November and according to it, disruptive or antisocial behavior on an airplane can be punished with a fine of up to 20 thousand euros (483,381 crowns) and a four-year ban on flying.
Administrative sanctions against undisciplined air passengers have entered into force: the registration, the fine and the ban on flights are now possible, in addition to criminal penalties.
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