UK airline Jet2.Com and World Duty Free are trialling tamper-proof bags for alcohol sales at Manchester and Glasgow airports to address ‘the growing industry-wide problem of disruptive passenger behaviour associated with air travel’.

 

 

In a statement, the UK low-cost carrier Jet2.Com says that both companies are working together to utilise tamper-proof bags on sales of alcohol in airport shops, as part of the Onboard Together programme, which is aimed at finding solutions to unruly passenger behaviour onboard flights. [Find out more from Jet2.com here].

 

 

The airline said its new trial began at Manchester Airport last week and will be extended to Glasgow in the week ahead as part of its determined effort to stamp out antisocial behaviour caused by illicit alcohol consumption onboard.

 

 

In essence, holidaymakers travelling with the airline and buying alcohol at either airport will have their goods placed in a sealed, tamper-proof bag prior to boarding – ‘so they can enjoy them when they arrive at their destination’.

 

 

 

Explaining the reasoning behind the move, Phil Ward, Managing Director of Jet2.com, said: “We are a family airline and holiday company carrying millions of passengers every year. Unfortunately disruptive passenger behaviour has increased and it is something we will not tolerate.

 

 

“We are taking a proactive stance to tackle this issue from many aspects, including this new trial of tamper-proof World Duty Free bags, to make sure an anti-social few don’t spoil the experience for the majority of customers that fly with us and want a fantastic holiday.

 

 

 

“Over the past couple of years, unruly passenger behaviour has increasingly been linked to excessive alcohol consumption prior to embarkation and from illicit alcohol onboard. We believe that the tamper-proof bags will act as an additional barrier and deterrent to this, as well as helping our cabin crew to monitor consumption.

 

 

“If this trial is successful it is something we will certainly look to permanently introduce at all the airports we fly from.”

 

 

The airline’s management says that it launched its Onboard Together programme this summer and has successfully prosecuted and fined some passengers for disruptive behaviour, while also banning ‘a significant number’ from travel.

 

 

Leading leisure airline Jet2.com launched its zero tolerance policy on disruptive and inappropriate behaviour onboard its flights back in May 2015, covering all flights to more than 55 destinations across Europe.

 

 

 

This relates to unacceptable behaviour onboard including racist behaviour, threatening conduct towards passengers and staff, and excessive consumption of alcohol, with the direct consequences of police prosecutions, refusals to board, flight diversions and flight bans for life.

 

 

It has also proved true to its word, prosecuting and banning a number of individuals who have crossed the bad behaviour line since.

 

 

Jet2.com currently flies from the following UK airports: Leeds Bradford; Manchester; Newcastle; Belfast; Edinburgh; East Midlands; and Glasgow. Its fleet consists of more than 59 aircraft handling just over 3m passengers in 2014/15.

 

Why Jet2.com has had enough…

July 2015: A 21-year old man was handed a lifetime ban by Jet2.com and presented with a £2,700 ($4,167) bill after he was arrested for displaying drunken and threatening behaviour to crew on a flight home to Glasgow from Ibiza and causing delays to the plane and 516 other passengers.

May 2015: A drunk man was arrested on a Jet2 flight from Glasgow to Turkey after it was forced to land at Gatwick Airport. He was later jailed for nine months after admitting charges of sexual assault, abusive behaviour and assault.