France introduces fines, flight bans for disruptive airline passengers

France has introduced tougher penalties for unruly airline passengers, including fines of up to €20,000 and flight bans of up to four years, under a new decree that took effect on November 8.

Decree No. 2025-1063 empowers the French Minister for Civil Aviation to issue fines of up to €10,000 for disruptive behaviour, rising to €20,000 for repeat offenders. The rules apply to passengers in French airspace and target actions deemed to compromise flight safety, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

According to a government statement, punishable offences include using electronic or electrical devices when prohibited by the flight crew, obstructing the crew’s safety duties, and refusing to comply with safety instructions. In the most serious cases, individuals may be barred from boarding flights for as long as four years.

A new database will be created to allow French air carriers to report “harmful behaviour,” with the system managed by the French Civil Aviation Authority.

“The safety of passengers and crew is our absolute priority,” Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot said. “Disruptive behaviour on board aircraft is unacceptable. It jeopardises flight safety and compromises the working conditions of flight crews.” He described the new measures as “swift, fair and proportionate enforcement.”

“This new regulatory framework sends a strong message: disruptive behaviour will no longer be tolerated and will be subject to effective administrative sanctions,” Tabarot added.

Incidents of unruly passengers have been increasing globally. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that by 2024 an incident is expected to occur every 395 flights. In Europe, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) records between 200 and 500 such incidents per month.

Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent at The Independent, said: “A €10,000 fine for forgetting to switch your phone to airplane mode looks a touch severe, but as a deterrent for obnoxious and dangerous behaviour on board, this penalty is just what is needed. All too often, disruptive passengers go unpunished for acts that distress other travellers and crew, and which jeopardise safety.”

By Sabina Mammadli