Turkey has issued a new decision that will change passenger behavior on airplanes. According to the new rules, passengers who stand up before the seatbelt sign is turned off after landing will risk a financial penalty. This measure has been introduced to ensure greater safety and reduce disorder during disembarkation, as reported by Euro News.
The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) emphasizes that standing up prematurely can lead to injuries, damage to luggage, or conflicts with other passengers. Therefore, it is now mandatory to remain seated with seatbelts fastened until the aircraft reaches its destination (parking position) and until the seatbelt sign is turned off. Additionally, passengers must wait for their designated row to be called for disembarkation to avoid crowding. Although the practice of calling rows for deplaning the aircraft exists with some European airlines (e.g., Vueling), until now, there has been no practice of penalizing passengers for failing to follow the procedure.
Violating these rules may result in a fine of $70 (around €62), and airlines must warn passengers about possible sanctions. Turkish Airlines has already updated its landing announcement, explicitly stating that offenders will be reported to the authorities.
Public reactions are divided. While some believe this is a necessary step to maintain order, others doubt its effectiveness. The question remains whether other airlines will introduce similar rules for flights landing in Turkey, or even more broadly.
