‘Air rage’ is complicating travel in North America and Europe – but not so much in Asia
The videos light up social media and dominate news headlines. From verbal confrontations to all-out brawls, scenes of airplane passengers behaving badly have become increasingly familiar in Covid-era travel. While “air rage” may seem to be another inevitability of living through a pandemic, some parts of the world are seeing fewer frustrations unleashed in the skies. Before the pandemic, there were between 100 to 150 reports of unruly passengers in a typical year on US airlines. In 2021, there were nearly 6,000, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, with some 72% related to mask disputes. “The issue is mostly a US problem,” said Shem Malmquist, a visiting instructor at Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics. “Part of this is absolutely related to the politicization of the pandemic in US politics. That aside, US passengers are considered to be more generally problematic by most cabin crew.” Europe is also grappling with its share of disruptive passengers. High-profile incidents have been reported on flights departing from Spain, Scotland, Amsterdam and Glasgow. Australia’s major airlines launched a joint campaign in 2021, following an increase in abusive behavior among flyers. Videos and airport signage have been put up to remind travelers to bring masks and respectful attitudes on board. Last year, Canadian authorities reported that nearly 1,600 hundred people refused to comply with mask rules during flights. Others were denied boarding or deplaned before take-off, according to Transport Canada, the country’s transportation department. In Asia, news of unruly flyers remains scarce. “I have not heard of any incidents — zip, none,” said Jeffrey C. Lowe, CEO of the Hong-Kong-based aviation services company Asian Sky Group. “Airline schedules are still greatly reduced,” he said of travel within Asia. Plus, there is “the pre-existing acceptance for masks in Asia before the pandemic … and, last but not least, a different perception here in Asia as to what infringes on our personal freedoms.”<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2022-02-24/general/2018air-rage2019-is-complicating-travel-in-north-america-and-europe-2013-but-not-so-much-in-asia
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‘Air rage’ is complicating travel in North America and Europe – but not so much in Asia
The videos light up social media and dominate news headlines. From verbal confrontations to all-out brawls, scenes of airplane passengers behaving badly have become increasingly familiar in Covid-era travel. While “air rage” may seem to be another inevitability of living through a pandemic, some parts of the world are seeing fewer frustrations unleashed in the skies. Before the pandemic, there were between 100 to 150 reports of unruly passengers in a typical year on US airlines. In 2021, there were nearly 6,000, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, with some 72% related to mask disputes. “The issue is mostly a US problem,” said Shem Malmquist, a visiting instructor at Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics. “Part of this is absolutely related to the politicization of the pandemic in US politics. That aside, US passengers are considered to be more generally problematic by most cabin crew.” Europe is also grappling with its share of disruptive passengers. High-profile incidents have been reported on flights departing from Spain, Scotland, Amsterdam and Glasgow. Australia’s major airlines launched a joint campaign in 2021, following an increase in abusive behavior among flyers. Videos and airport signage have been put up to remind travelers to bring masks and respectful attitudes on board. Last year, Canadian authorities reported that nearly 1,600 hundred people refused to comply with mask rules during flights. Others were denied boarding or deplaned before take-off, according to Transport Canada, the country’s transportation department. In Asia, news of unruly flyers remains scarce. “I have not heard of any incidents — zip, none,” said Jeffrey C. Lowe, CEO of the Hong-Kong-based aviation services company Asian Sky Group. “Airline schedules are still greatly reduced,” he said of travel within Asia. Plus, there is “the pre-existing acceptance for masks in Asia before the pandemic … and, last but not least, a different perception here in Asia as to what infringes on our personal freedoms.”<br/>
