UK proposes database to ban unruly airline passengers

The UK government is developing proposals for a national system that could see passengers banned from flying with all airlines for serious disruptive behavior. Officials from the Home Office and the Department for Transport are exploring the creation of a centralized database to share information about unruly passengers, a measure aimed at closing a current loophole where individuals banned by one airline can simply book with another.

Under the current framework, data protection rules prevent airlines from sharing passenger information with each other, even following criminal incidents onboard. The proposed solution would involve government officials maintaining a register of individuals who have been banned for serious misconduct. When a listed passenger attempts to check in for a flight, the airline would be alerted and could then choose to refuse carriage. Officials stated the system is designed to be compliant with existing data protection laws and would not require new legislation.

The initiative comes amid a significant rise in reported incidents of air rage. According to Civil Aviation Authority figures, incidents involving drunk, violent, or disruptive passengers...