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.
Where ‘air rage’ is high
Before the pandemic, there were between 100 to 150 reports of unruly passengers in a typical year on U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. politics. That aside, U.S. 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.
The International Air Transport Association held a panel discussion about unruly passengers, immediately followed by another on…
