Why Does Holiday Air Travel Stress Spike Unruly Passenger Incidents?

A new analysis of Canadian aviation data confirms that reports of disruptive passengers on commercial airliners peak sharply during the holiday season. The spike is not simply due to more flights. Instead, the data proves that unruly incidents are actually more common during this time of year.

CBC News analyzed over 340,000 aviation events from the past 25 years. This analysis, using the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS), found December has the highest proportion of disruptive passenger reports. This is based on approximately 2,400 reports filed since the year 2000.

The High-Pressure Holiday Environment

Full flights, tight connections, and unpredictable winter weather create high-pressure situations. Alia Hussain, who is an 18-year cabin crew veteran, notes December is uniquely intense. Hussain is also the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees' (CUPE) airline division. She represents cabin crew for WestJet, Encore, and Swoop.

She stated that crew members face irregular hours and minimum-rest duty days. This combination creates a far more intense environment for both passengers and crew. Stress, fatigue, a sense of entitlement, and frustration with travel disruptions play a significant role in poor behavior. Alcohol is often a contributing factor, but not the root issue, Hussain said.

Disruptive passenger reports cover a wide range of issues. According to Transport Canada, a report is filed when someone “disrupts or threatens the normal operations of an aircraft.” Incidents include smoking in the washroom, intoxication, yelling, and even sexual assault. For instance, a Christmas Day flight from London, England, to Calgary saw a passenger make inappropriate advances. The crew reported the passenger was “very aggressive and vulgar,” leading to charges.

Post-Pandemic Trends and Global Scope

While the holiday spike is clear, problematic passenger incidents are declining overall from pandemic highs. The year 2022 was the worst on record for Canada, with Transport Canada receiving 224 reports. This was driven partly by mask-related incidents. Last year, 2023, saw 176 overall reports. However, the numbers are still not back to pre-pandemic levels. Hussain noted a continued increase in passengers with elevated stress levels. She also cited a lower tolerance for delays and a greater willingness to challenge safety instructions. WestJet confirmed a significant increase in unruly guests compared to years prior to the pandemic. These reports include verbal abuse, non-compliance, and "life-threatening behaviours." Air Canada, however, suggested its cases have remained stable and rare.

The trend is also reflected in global and U.S. data. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported one unruly incident for every 480 flights in 2023. This is an increase from one per 568 flights in 2022. In the U.S., the FAA reported 2,075 unruly passenger incidents in 2023. This is significantly higher than the 1,161 incidents reported in pre-pandemic 2019. The FAA maintains a Zero-Tolerance Policy and can propose civil penalties up to $37,000 per violation.

Enforcement and Industry Response

The solution, according to CUPE’s Hussain, is stronger, system-wide enforcement. She argues that individual airline no-fly lists are insufficient. Information about problematic passengers must be shared across companies. Transport Canada highlights the Passenger Protect Program Operations Centre. This centre works with Public Safety Canada to restrict travel for high-risk individuals.

• Top Canadian Domestic Routes for Incidents: Edmonton to Toronto (53 cases), Toronto to Vancouver (49 cases), and Toronto to Calgary (48 cases).
• Top International Route: Toronto to Las Vegas (15 cases).

Despite the data, Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter do not implement special protocols for high-stress travel periods or specific routes. The U.S. Department of Transportation also addressed the issue. They released a video campaign urging passengers to be polite ahead of American Thanksgiving. This highlights the international nature of the commercial aviation safety challenge. More comprehensive, collaborative strategies are needed to manage unruly passenger incidents and ensure a safe experience for all travelers, as reported in this aviation news update.

• Impact: Unruly behavior threatens the safety and security of all passengers and crew.
• Risk: The combination of stress, fatigue, and full flights during peak season increases the likelihood of serious incidents.
• Mitigation: Industry experts call for system-wide information sharing and stronger enforcement of regulations.