The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recently initiated the “Fly Right” campaign. The project aims to promote appropriate and compliant passenger behaviour on board. Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and the world’s most environmentally sustainable airline* is among many other carriers supporting the new initiative.

The most common unruly passenger occurrences consist of a wide range of disruptive behaviours, such as non-compliance with crew instructions, intoxication, verbal, and even physical altercations.

The safety and security of passengers and crew members on board is of utmost importance for Wizz Air. The carrier therefore welcomes this initiative and is fully prepared to actively participate in the campaign.

EASA recommends the following measurements:

• Stricter legislation
• Crew and staff training
• Collaborative reporting systems and effective communication
• Enhanced safety measures
• Passenger education

The material serves as a general guideline to help all travellers enjoy a pleasant and relaxed journey. It is available on EASA‘s Air Operations Community website here.

The main goal of the “Fly Right” campaign is to increase passenger awareness about the matter by emphasizing the following three key points:

•         Ready for Flight: Tips for a smooth and stress-free journey, for example packing smart and according to airline regulations, remaining well informed, arriving early to the airport, as well as staying hydrated, etc.
•         Be Polite: Emphasis on being kind to staff and fellow passengers, practicing patience and remaining calm, following crew instructions and helping others.
•         Don’t Fight: Disruptive behaviour cannot be tolerated; passengers are reminded of the importance of responsible and rational onboard manners and the possible consequences of out of line behavior.

Miklós Bódai, Head of Security at Wizz Air said: “The EASA Fly Right campaign is a possibility to increase safety across the whole aviation industry and I am glad that we, as a responsible airline, are a part of this initiative. The safety of our passengers and our crew is the highest priority for us.”

John Franklin, EASA Head of Safety Promotion (and lead for the EASA “Fly Right” campaign) said: “Over the past three years the European aviation industry has seen an increase in the number of unruly passenger events and their severity. This is why EASA launched the “Fly Right” Campaign this summer. We encourage national authorities, airlines, and airports to work together and to communicate clearly to passengers, as this is important to minimize the risk to the traveling public and crew members.”