Russian lawmakers have introduced a bill to the State Duma aimed at enforcing tougher penalties against unruly airline passengers across the country.
The proposed legislation, published in the official database of the parliamentary chamber, was reported by Russian state news agency TASS. The authors of the bill propose expanding the criteria that allow commercial airlines to place disruptive travelers on blacklists.
Under the new measures, aviation carriers would also receive legal permission to share and exchange their passenger blacklists with one another across the domestic aviation sector.
New criteria for blacklisting
The draft document specifically targets individuals who commit minor hooliganism combined with a refusal to obey lawful orders from law enforcement representatives or other personnel enforcing public order. Under the proposal, violations categorized under Article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation would allow airlines to ban disruptive passengers.
In addition, the document provides for an increase in the maximum length of a flight ban to three years for unruly passengers who commit repeat unlawful acts on board an aircraft.
The State Duma functions as the lower house of the Federal Assembly, the national parliament of the Russian Federation responsible for drafting and passing federal legislation. State news agency TASS is headquartered in Moscow and serves as a primary state press outlet reporting on legislative filings and government affairs. In the Russian legal framework, administrative offenses are governed separately from criminal law, establishing penalties for public order violations.
Existing laws and recent incidents
Under current Russian legislation, airlines are forbidden from placing passengers on blacklists solely for being in a state of alcohol intoxication, using profanity, threatening flight crews or fellow travelers, displaying aggressive behavior, or attempting to start fights.
The introduction of the new legislative proposal comes after an intoxicated Russian traveler caused a disruption and started a fight on board a flight originating from the United Arab Emirates. The altercation was recorded on video before being circulated online.
Commercial airlines rely on passenger blacklists as an operational security mechanism to protect cabin crew and maintain order during flights. Current civil aviation regulations govern when carriers can refuse service to specific individuals. If approved by lawmakers in the State Duma, the expanded legislation would grant Russian airlines broader statutory authority to share data and restrict travel for repeat offenders.
