Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian revealed that Delta wouldn’t hesitate to ban uncivil passengers. Bastian announced the policy in a memo sent to employees. It comes at a time when the airline has already banned over 800 people from its flights for refusing to wear a facemask.
The pandemic has changed the way that we travel. Passengers have been forced to get used to a new normal that has meant making changes such as keeping distance in airport terminals and wearing masks onboard all flights. It seems that many still aren’t onboard with the second change, given how many passengers have been banned by US airlines.
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Banning passengers over basic civility
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian revealed that any passengers who don’t show respect to crew or other passengers would get a permanent ban from the airline. According to the memo, as seen by Fox News, Bastian said,
“Please know that respect and civility to others on our planes, at our airports, in our workplaces and in our society – even when we have differences of opinion – have always been a requirement for our people and our customers. Those who refuse to display basic civility to our people or their fellow travelers are not welcome on Delta. Their actions will not be tolerated, and they will not have the privilege of flying our airline ever again.”
Yesterday Fox News reported that over 2,845 people had been placed on airline no-fly lists in the United States. Delta currently has the most extensive list with over 880 names. Most US airlines have been taking a hard stance on those not willing to wear a mask as required. Alaska Airlines went as far as to introduce a yellow card warning system. According to the publication, Alaska Airlines has banned 303 passengers. JetBlue has the smallest list of the lot with just 115 passengers.
The FAA is also taking action
At the same time that Delta is threatening to ban discourteous passengers from flying, the Federal Aviation Administration is also getting tougher on those who seek to disrupt flights. Last week Simple Flying reported that the agency would be cracking down on any unruly passengers.
The FAA Administrator Steve Dickson signed an order for a compliance and enforcement program which would see trouble makers faced with up to 20 years in prison. The other alternate punishment sees fines of up to $35,000 being issued. At the time, Dickson commented,
“We’ve seen a disturbing increase in these incidents… We’ll take the strongest possible enforcement action against any passenger who engages in it.”
Simple Flying reached out to Delta for comment on this story.
Do you think Delta is right to ban people for refusing to display basic civility? Let us know what you think and why in the comments.
