Bill to penalize aggressive airline passengers passes first reading: What can we expect?
Air travel is becoming one of the most sought-after experiences for many people, whether for business or pleasure. It has become a common means of domestic and long-distance transportation.
However, aggressive and temperamental passengers become an uncomfortable factor and generate repulsion towards the experience of flying on the country's airlines.
For this reason, the House of Representatives' Seventh Committee approved, in its first debate, Bill 167 of 2023, which seeks to more severely punish erratic and aggressive behavior by passengers of this type of transportation.
It seeks to make air travel more comfortable. Photo: Avianca
After several failed attempts and submissions, the Colombian air transport union's insistence and unity around this project allowed it to advance in Congress.
The goal is to reduce assaults on crew members. Photo: iStock.
Carlos Roncancio, legal advisor to the Colombian Air Workers Union (Sintratac), said, according to information collected by Portafolio, that the project is an "important step that constitutes a process in the right direction to guarantee safe and violence-free environments in the airline sector, both for passengers and for those who provide their services as flight attendants and ground personnel."
According to the union, the main victims of passenger aggression are aircraft crew members. They suffer physical attacks that result in psychological harm, which can lead to a decrease in the operational effectiveness of flights.
It may affect flight operations. Photo: Courtesy.
Based on this, Roncancio stated that he values " the commitment demonstrated by the senators who make up Commission VII and we respectfully, but emphatically, call on the entire Congress and the National Government to support this initiative until its final approval."
What does the project contain? According to Daniel Gallo, president of Sintratac, this bill contains important points that could change the way airlines treat their passengers and their regulations. These points include:
- Increased fines: If approved, aggressive passengers could be forced to pay fines of up to 20 minimum wages.
- Suspension of air travel: If this bill becomes law, aggressors or aggressive passengers could face a 12-month ban from traveling on airplanes. This will depend on the type of assault.
- Redress : Airlines may seek compensation from passengers who behave erratically during flights.
- Warnings : When this bill is passed, airlines will have to warn passengers that they are subject to this law and may be penalized for disruptive behavior.
This is expected to create cooperation between airlines. Photo: iStock.
Approval of this project would lead to a collaboration between airlines that could facilitate the treatment of passengers and prevent distressing moments for others.
It would also allow for the detention and prosecution of passengers who violate these rules, implementing mechanisms that airlines can use in these cases.
It would also help prevent the additional costs that aggressive passengers currently impose on airlines. In many cases, these passengers face long and tedious legal proceedings.
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