This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
Jet2.com and WDF partner against ‘illicit’ alcohol consumption
Leisure airline Jet2.com and travel retailer World Duty Free (WDF) have teamed up in a trial to introduce tamper-proof bags for airport alcohol sales in a bid to counter on-board consumption.
Jet2.com and World Duty Free have partnered to counter “illicit” alcohol consumption on board aircraft
The first-of-its-kind scheme is currently being trialled at Manchester Airport, with Glasgow Airport joining the initiative later this week. It forms part of the “Onboard Together” programme to tackle the “growing” problem of disruptive air passengers and “illicit” on-board alcohol consumption.
Holidaymakers travelling with the Jet2.com and purchasing alcohol at either airport will have their goods placed in a sealed, tamper-proof bag prior to boarding.
“We are a family airline and holiday company carrying millions of passengers every year. Unfortunately disruptive passenger behaviour has increased and it is something we will not tolerate,” said Phil Ward, Jet2.com managing director.
“We are taking a proactive stance to tackle this issue from many aspects, including this new trial of tamper-proof World Duty Free bags, to make sure an anti-social few don’t spoil the experience for the majority of customers that fly with us and want a fantastic holiday.
“Over the past couple of years, unruly passenger behaviour has increasingly been linked to excessive alcohol consumption prior to embarkation and from illicit alcohol onboard. We believe that the tamper proof bags will act as an additional barrier and deterrent to this as well as helping our cabin crew to monitor consumption.
“If this trial is successful it is something we will certainly look to permanently introduce at all the airports we fly from.”
It is an offence under UK aviation law to be drunk on board an aircraft, or to enter one while drunk. Those convicted could face a maximum fine of £5,000 and two years in prison.
Jet2.com introduced its Onboard Together scheme earlier this summer. In that time it has successfully prosecuted and fined passengers for their disruptive behaviour and also banned a “significant number” from travel.
In July 2015, the Civil Aviation Authority released figures which showed more than 270 incidents of disruptive, “alcohol fuelled” behaviour had taken place on flights since 2014.