New proposal would let airlines share information about disruptive passengers

Under a new proposal, airlines would be able to share information with each other about violent and disruptive passengers and ban them from flights across all carriers. The scheme resembles a shared blacklist system that would transcend individual airline boundaries.

The aviation sector is debating a new proposal that would allow airlines to share information about problematic passengers. Currently, each airline is forced to handle disruptive passengers independently, meaning a person banned by one carrier can freely fly with another airline.

Under the new plan, a common database or information-sharing mechanism would be established where airlines could record data on passengers who have engaged in violent, threatening, or otherwise disruptive behaviour. This would create a situation where individuals who seriously violate conduct rules could be barred from all flights.

Supporters of the proposal argue that such a system would protect flight crews and fellow passengers and create a stronger deterrent effect. Incidents on flights – including aggression towards cabin crew and disruptive behaviour by intoxicated passengers – have increased in recent years in several countries.

However, the proposal also raises privacy and proportionality concerns. Critics question how data accuracy would be ensured and how a passenger wrongly placed on the list could restore their reputation. There is also a need to address the question of what behaviour precisely would lead to blacklisting and which authority would oversee this process.