Disruption behavior increased in air transport, liquor the most common cause

One’s own Bottle bumps, flight attendants annoyance with hand luggage, tobacco burning in the toilet.

Among other things, such problems have increased in air traffic.

According to Traficom, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, disruption behavior in air transport has increased by 20-30 % in Finland in 2018-2024.

“In Europe, things are even worse,” says Traficom Aviation Director Jari Pöntinen.

There were 936 cases in Europe ten years ago, now the number is 7787. In Finland, the growth of cases has not been as explosive, but the curve is rising.

Pöntinen spoke at a joint media event for aviation players on Wednesday. The event was part of the aviation industry setting yourself in flight mode campaign. The aim of the campaign is to prevent disturbance behavior on flights and fields.

The whys and wherefores According to Pöntinen, there are many people behind the growth of disturbance behavior.

He thinks that the sharp rise in disturbance cases in 2022 may be a side effect of the end of corona insulation. You may also play a role in the Ukrainian war.

« Flight times have been extended, so people have to sit on the machine for longer. »

Also, increased anxiety in society can be reflected in air travel.

“In small spaces, anxiety may appear more prominent,” says Pöntinen.

Low experience in air travel is not the cause of disturbance behavior, as young people are not emphasized in statistics. According to Pöntinen, the most disturbance is over 40 years of age.

Finnair cabin safety manager Ida Flykt says that most of the disruption cases are associated with alcohol in one way or another.

« Drinking from your own bottles has really increased a lot. »

Suddenly, one might think that this is the result of the fact that free wine service has been discontinued in the Economy class. However, Flykt does not believe that it would be solved by bringing free liquor back to flights.

« Drinking from my own bottles increased already when alcohol serving was still free. »

In addition, disturbance behavior has also increased on long -haul flights, which have wine and beer for free meals.

What Then people on the plane are annoying?

Simplifying: Other people.

Flying would be nice if there were no others on the machine. Nobody would kick the chair, take the armrest, or stick their hand luggage into the wrong compartment.

The cabin crew gets its share of irritation. Words come from transporting pet, unauthorized photography and security issues. The dispute also comes from encryption.

« There is a risk of fire in smoking, so it always deals very hard and immediately, » says Pöntinen.

Partly The increase in disturbance cases may be explained by the fact that there is currently zero tolerance for any kind of harassment.

In the past, more tolerance was tolerated by passengers before they were reported.

« Sure, it is that more tolerance has been more tolerance before. But in many ways, what was ok before, » says Flykt.

However, the change in the world does not explain everything. Flykt points out that zero tolerance for disruption behavior has long been in force, but disruptions have continued to grow.

Most Situations are being dealt with by discussion, but it is not always enough. Eastern Uusimaa police go to an airplane almost weekly. There are even more tasks at the airport.

« We go there daily, » says the Commissioner Miika Laine.

According to Laine, the number of police duties at the airport has been increasing. Most people who cause disturbance are not flying anywhere. By the way, they stay at the airport. Tasks are caused, among other things, by disturbances, terrorist threats and illegal drone flying.