Bristol Airport has launched a campaign to crack down on disruptive passengers as its busy summer season takes off.
The airport, which prior to the pandemic was handling more than 9m passengers a year, has launched a Get On Board awareness campaign as a reminder of the serious consequences of disruptive activity. 
Passengers will see new warnings about disruptive behaviour on digital display screens in the terminal, in retail and food and drink outlets and via social media.
The campaign, which reinforces the UK Aviation Industry Code of Practice on Disruptive Passengers, will clearly state it is an offence to be disruptive on board an aircraft and the consequences of being denied travel.
Featuring the strapline ‘If you’re not on board, you won’t get on board’, also stresses that as well as being denied boarding, penalties can also include an airline ban with fines of up to £80,000 or jail for the most serious offences.
The campaign follows measures already in place at the airport, the UK’s ninth busiest and England’s third largest regional airport, to tackle disruptive behaviour.
These include a ban on the sale of single bottles of spirits in airside shops and on double measures of spirits in its bars as well as restricting access to the departure lounge if the airport security team considers passengers disruptive or providing cause for concern. 
Bristol Airport head of customer operations Richard Thomasson said: “Summer is our busiest period as passengers go on a much-deserved holiday or travel to meet up with loved ones.
“We therefore want to remind those travelling through the terminal and on to the aircraft that anti-social behaviour by passengers is not accepted by the airport or airlines and could result in passengers being refused travel.
“The vast majority of passengers enjoy themselves responsibly, but there are a small minority that can make flying unpleasant or unsafe for others.
“The Get On Board campaign provides a helpful reminder to passengers about the consequences of disruptive behaviour during their time at the airport.
“The safety of our staff, business partners and customers is our number one priority as illustrated with the campaign.
“Coordinated involvement from the airport police, catering managers, airlines and the airport’s operational teams may result in the passenger being denied boarding and subsequently missing their flight and incurring additional costs.”
