Airline passengers to Turkey will be fined if they stand up before the seatbelt sign turns off after landing, regulators have said.
The Turkish civil aviation authority said it imposed the order after receiving complaints from passengers. The rules came into effect earlier this month.
Turkish media reports say fines will be about about US$70 (£50), although no amount is mentioned in the authority’s guidance.
The authority warned that there was a “serious increase” in such incidents, with many complaints about passengers grabbing overhead baggage before the plane has been parked.
Turkey is a destination for tens of millions of tourists every year.
The aviation authority said commercial airlines must now issue an in-flight announcement and report those who do not follow orders.
Passengers must be told to keep their seatbelts locked, and refrain from standing and opening overhead lockers until the seatbelt sign is off.
Those who do not follow these rules must be reported to the authority, it says.
Turkish Airlines, the national carrier, has updated its landing announcement, according to Euronews.
“Passengers who do not comply with the rules will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through a Disruptive Passenger Report, and an administrative fine will be imposed in accordance with the applicable legal regulations,” the airline says upon landing, according to the TV network.
The BBC has contacted the airline for comment.
Leave a Reply