Air rage has been highlighted by the case of the Irish Travellers accused of disorderly behaviour on a flight from Gatwick to Montego Bay in Jamaica. Two of them were yesterday jailed for the affray on board the aircraft, which led to the captain diverting it to Norfolk, Virginia. Irrespective of the merits of this case, the issue comes more into focus as the number travelling by air rises inexorably, leading to increased stress and often deteriorating physical conditions on the aircraft involved.
Although Irish airlines do not reveal the extent of the problem, statistics from Britain suggest such violent incidents are comparatively rare. Some 1,205 incidents, most of them non-violent, were reported there last year. It would be useful to have more detail from this country. Predominantly such incidents have to do with alcohol and tobacco - excessive consumption of drink and hostile reaction to bans on in-flight smoking. Airline representatives point out that drunkenness is less of a problem on short-haul flights than on longer ones, especially holiday charters. There are quite firm standing rules for stewards about serving alcohol to passengers - necessarily so, given the potential dangers. Experienced travellers are aware that the effect of alcohol is reinforced at such heights, and that dehydration contributes to jet lag.
As yet there is little support for prohibiting drink, as has happened with tobacco, but a clear case for standardising best practice regulation at international level on the matter. Pilots' organisations are pressing for more effective international legislation on four areas of in-flight misbehaviour: smoking on board; standard penalties for disruptive passengers; interfering with crew members; and the misuse of mobile telephones and electronic equipment. While this is awaited, they suggest there is an opportunity for the Government to introduce its own rules in the forthcoming Aviation Regulation Bill.
Unruly passengers are one thing - it is good to be reminded that the phenomenon of air rage, joins road rage, boat rage and, increasingly in Ireland, rail rage in the lexicon of contemporary misbehaviour. We hear too little about other sources of complaint about air travel, which are much more rationally based and certainly amenable to international regulation.
Inferior air quality, for example, is a subject which ought to enrage the common traveller, but which is taken far too much for granted. Airlines increasingly recycle air to save on fuel and other costs. As a result, doctors report increasing cases of respiratory illnesses arising from flights, especially among those who travel in the back seats of aircraft. Infectious diseases can also be spread in this way. It is hard for the individual traveller to complain about this. But there is surely a case for them as consumers and voters to think about putting pressure on governments for international regulation to improve air quality. That would be air rage constructively channelled.