Turkey to Penalize Passengers for Prematurely Rising from Seats Following Landing
The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has enacted a new regulation imposing penalties on passengers flying to Turkey who stand up or unfasten seatbelts before the fasten seatbelt sign is turned off, once the plane has landed and is taxiing to the terminal.
The regulation aims to decrease cabin crew's need to repeat safety instructions, often disregarded, and enhance both passenger safety and the orderliness of disembarkation. Henceforth, passengers will need to wait until the seatbelt sign is switched off and their row is called before they can exit the plane.
This rule, based on Article 143 of the Turkish Civil Aviation Law No. 2920, extends to all airlines conducting flights into Turkey. As stated by the Turkish CAA, airlines have been mandated to remind passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened during and after landing, until reaching the parking position, and to report any infringements to the aviation authority, potentially leading to fines.
Travelers typically fall into two groups: those who rise as soon as the plane touches down, and those who remain seated until the seatbelt sign is turned off. If one belongs to the former group (due to leg discomfort, impatience, eagerness to be first out, or time constraints for a connecting flight), a fine of around $67-$70 could be levied.
Turkish Airlines has already implemented this rule, revising its landing announcement to explicitly warn that passengers who do not comply will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and fined accordingly.
The public's online reactions have been divided. Some questioned the method for fines' issuance, while others supported the new policy. Skepticism regarding its impact remains.
Turkish Airlines flies to 131 countries and holds the record for serving the highest number of countries of any airline globally. At present, it remains unclear if other airlines, when landing in Turkey, will follow Turkish Airlines' lead and impose similar fines on unruly passengers.
A year ago, American Airlines introduced a similar regulation, targeting pre-boarding behavior and fining so-called "gate lice," or those who crowd around the gate eager to board first. However, at present, there is no evidence that other countries or airlines outside Turkey are adopting or enforcing such fines for this behavior. Therefore, the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority regulation in question appears specific to flights within or arriving in Turkey.
- The new regulation, enforced by the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority, extends to all airlines operating flights into Turkey, and it requires these airlines to remind passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened during and after landing.
- Passengers who disregard this rule, standing up or unfastening seatbelts before the plane has taxied to the terminal and the fasten seatbelt sign is turned off, may face fines of around $67-$70.
- The aviation industry has been addressing various aspects of passenger behavior, as American Airlines introduced a regulation last year targeting pre-boarding behavior and fining passengers who crowd around the gate eager to board first.
- This new lifestyle trend towards stricter adherence to safety rules and orderliness, introduced by the Turkish CAA, is being closely observed within the travel and transportation sector, with other airlines considering following suit, particularly those landing in Turkey.
