KM Malta Airlines has launched a new social media campaign to raise awareness of the serious impact that unruly passenger behaviour can have on flight safety, comfort, and operations.

"The initiative reflects the airline's zero-tolerance stance on disruptive conduct and is aligned with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency's #NotOnMyFlight campaign, as well as industry guidance from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)."

 Unruly and disruptive behaviour is a growing concern across the aviation industry, the airline said. "IATA reports an incident rate of 1.76 per 1,000 flights, and within the EU, the safety of a flight is threatened by such behaviour every three hours. KM Malta Airlines is reaching out to remind travellers that every passenger and crew member has the right to a safe, respectful journey - and that disruptive behaviour has no place on board or on the ground."

"While serious incidents remain uncommon, the consequences can be severe. Disruptive conduct can compromise the safety of the aircraft, delay flights, and lead to diversions. Actions such as verbal or physical abuse, refusing to follow crew instructions, smoking or vaping on board, and intimidating or aggressive behaviour undermine the discipline and order essential to flight safety," the airline said.

"A safe and respectful cabin environment is essential to the wellbeing of everyone on board," Capt. Tyrone Galea, Director Safety & Compliance at KM Malta Airlines said. "There is absolutely no room for abusive, aggressive, or non-compliant behaviour - and our crew are trained and empowered to take appropriate action when needed."

While excessive alcohol consumption is not considered unruly behaviour on its own, it is one of the leading causes of incidents in flight, the airline said, adding that impaired judgement can quickly escalate into conflict or non-compliance, increasing the risk to others.

"The campaign makes it clear that the consequences of unruly behaviour extend beyond fines or legal action. Such behaviour can place crew and passengers at risk, disrupt emergency procedures, and affect the ability of the crew to maintain safety," the airline said. In some cases, even a single passenger's actions can result in injury to others or compromise the normal operation of the flight, it adds.

"Respect is not optional when you're 35,000 feet in the air," David Curmi, Executive Chairman at KM Malta Airlines said. "We're proud of our strong safety culture - and it's something we're committed to protecting on every flight."