Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines urges other airlines to advocate a ‘no-fly’ list on Friday, September 24, 2021, to exercise the protection of airline employees from the disruptive behaviors of the passengers during the flight.
This year, the Federal Aviation Administration received 4,385 reports of unruly passengers related to travelers who refused to comply with a federal mask mandate on board.
A surge in unruly passenger behavior prompts ‘no-fly’ list
Flight attendants and pilot labor unions have raised alarms about this behavior that has surged during the pandemic. Reports have included incidents of shouting, verbal abuse of crews, and in rare cases, physical assault.
FAA issued a zero-tolerance policy for these incidents on Thursday and that the rate has dropped by 50% since then. However, the rate of six incidents per 10,000 flights remains “too high.”
Rep. Peter DeFazio, (D-Ore) the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure said that airport restaurants should help stop passengers from bringing alcohol on board with to-go cups. According to De Faizo, he does not see any reason why a passenger should leave with a ‘to-go cup of alcohol when boarding the plane.
Centralized database of banned airline passengers
On the other hand, due to the concerns about these drinking problems of the passengers, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines currently stopped selling alcohol on board to avoid the incident.
This is why the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing 50,000 cabin crew members across more than a dozen airlines called for a centralized database of banned airline passengers.
Southwest’s incoming CEO, Bob Jordan, on Thursday that he didn’t expect alcohol sales to return until the federal mask mandate for air travel is lifted, a step that is currently scheduled for Jan. 19.
One of the lobbying groups for large U.S. carrier, Airlines for America said, “The top priority of A4A passenger carriers is the safety of all employees and passengers and we are committed to working with the federal government and our industry partners to provide a safe journey for all travelers.”
At present, about 1,600 passengers of Delta are now on the list. At the same time, the airline declined to comment further on a shared no-fly list of banned travelers.
