UAE ratifies new rules to tackle unruly passengers; aviation industry welcomes move

UAE ratifies new rules to tackle unruly passengers; aviation industry welcomes move

Airline industry insiders have welcomed the move by UAE to ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14), a move that will strengthen the global legal deterrent against unruly and disruptive passenger incidents onboard flights.

Effective from May 1, 2023, authorities in the UAE will have the jurisdiction to manage unruly and disruptive passengers that land in the country, irrespective of where the aircraft is registered. This resolves an existing gap in international aviation law that often results in those accused of unruly behaviour from being prosecuted for their misbehaviour.

“This is the most amazing news,” said M.C., a flight stewardess with a UAE-based airline. “It is unfair that we take so much trouble to keep an airline safe and passengers can behave in an unruly manner and get away with it. From what we understand, if we ever hand over a passenger to the police, they are let off with a warning. I think tighter rules will definitely make people behave better.”

Easier to implement stricter penalties

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said this move will make enforcement of stricter penalties on disruptive flyers easier. “Not only will this give the UAE authorities important new powers in dealing with unruly passengers that land