If you fly into Turkey and decide to hop up from your seat the moment the plane touches down, you may want to sit back down…or pay up.
Turkey Will Fine Airline Passengers Who Unbuckle Before The Plane Stops
Turkey’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced it will begin fining passengers who unbuckle, stand up, block aisles, or open overhead bins before the aircraft has come to a complete stop at the gate.
While many passengers disregard crew instructions to remain seated until the seatbelt sign is off, Turkey has decided to stop asking nicely. Instead, they’re threatening financial penalties (reportedly up to 70 USD, though the exact amount has not been disclosed by the DGCA) for those who violate post-landing safety rules.
According to the aviation authority, this new regulation is in response to growing passenger complaints and safety concerns. Inspectors noted that early standers cause chaos during taxiing and could jeopardize safety in the cabin, especially during abrupt stops or if bags fall from overhead bins.
The rules apply to all flights arriving in Turkey. Airlines will now be required to include a clear warning in their in-flight announcements that violations will be documented and could result in a fine.
The updated policy also includes a nod to etiquette: wait for passengers in the rows ahead of you to disembark first. While that might feel like wishful thinking, it’s now official guidance.
For now, it remains unclear how strictly the fines will be enforced or if passengers will receive warnings before getting cited. But the message is clear: if you treat the aisle like a racetrack the moment you land, you might get more than dirty looks…you might get a bill.
CONCLUSION
Turkey is threatening to fine passengers who stand up before the seatbelt light goes off after landing, a notorious problem. Personally, I think this is long overdue. Cabin discipline after landing has all but disintegrated in many parts of the world, with passengers rushing to the front like a Black Friday sale at Walmart. If you can’t sit for 30 more seconds until the door opens, maybe a fine will remind you…
What do you think of Turkey’s new fines for impatient flyers?
They’re going to make a killing on flights from China!
LOL
Don’t mess with Turkey. Ever seen the film “Midnight Express”?
My hands are tied by Ankara! was one line.
Will the F/A’s be deputized to issue the citations ? Thanks to the self-centered idiots who don’t listen/understand crew announcements. A good idea but wonder how it’ll be enforced.
Warm up the bone-saws!
Every government should do this.