Turkey plans to fine impatient plane passengers who stand up too early or block aisles

Might this be the start of a new wave of regulations to control poor travel etiquette?

The Turkish civil aviation authority will fine passengers to discourage poor etiquette. Getty Images

If you are the type of passenger who jumps out of their seat and opens the overhead lockers before the plane has stopped moving, then you might want to reconsider.

The civil aviation authority of Turkey has announced plans to fine impatient passengers in a bid to discourage poor etiquette.

Those caught standing up before the aircraft has come to a full halt on the tarmac, accessing overhead lockers, blocking the aisle or moving forward to disembark before others, now risk incurring a fee. While the figure has not yet been announced, it is thought to be about $70 (Dh257).

Earlier this year, such impatient passenger behaviour even earned a name – aisle lice.

Following customer complaints, the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation took action to promote a smoother journey for all passengers, hoping the fine will ensure people disembark planes in an orderly manner.

Airports are getting busier, placing pressure on authorities to ensure orderly behaviour. Bloomberg

“Despite announcements informing passengers of the rules, many are standing up before the aircraft reaches its parking position and before the seat belt sign is turned off,” the Turkish aviation authority said.

Those rushing forward, standing up too early, or blocking the aisle can impact other passengers trying to get on or off the plane.

“This behaviour compromises the safety of passengers and baggage, and disregards the satisfaction and exit priority of other travellers,” the release continued.

Under the new regulations, all commercial airlines operating in or out of Turkey will now have to inform passengers of the change via a revised in-flight announcement. As well as instructing passengers to remain seated and to wait to disembark patiently, the new wording will notify that violations will be documented and recorded. It is unclear when the new fines will be implemented.

As airports get busier, airlines are under pressure to safely manage enormous numbers of people. In 2024, for example, Dubai International Airport was once again the world's busiest airport, with more than 92 million passengers passing through. The scale of such figures outlines the importance of ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew on the ground and in the air.

Poor behaviour seems to be a growing problem, however. Elsewhere, airlines are reportedly considering ways to prevent passengers from congregating around the gate in an effort to board first. Far from speeding up the process, “gate lice” can actually slow it down, by denying customers space to pass through calmly.