Portuguese 
New Rule Imposes Fines Up to R$ 17,500 and Boarding Restrictions for Serious Misconduct on Domestic Flights
The regulation organizes progressive measures for airlines and airports addressing behaviors that put safety and operations at risk. Guidance, warnings, containment, police involvement, removal from the aircraft, and reparations are among the potential responses.
According to the Ministry of Ports and Airports, the regulation will take effect on September 14. In cases of serious or very serious misconduct, fines could reach R$ 17,500.
Passengers may also be barred from boarding for up to one year on domestic flights. The enforcement depends on a process with a formal charge, the right to defense, and the possibility of appeal.
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Misconduct on Flights Exceeds Just a Discussion
The list includes failure to comply with crew safety instructions, threatening or assaulting passengers and workers, smoking on board, engaging in sexual harassment, making false bomb threats, and attempting to access the cockpit.
These behaviors vary in severity; hence, the response must be proportional. An inattentive passenger may receive guidance; a threat capable of disrupting operations necessitates police involvement and a more rigorous approach.
Within the aircraft, a simple refusal can quickly escalate. Crew members operate in limited space and need to safeguard doors, equipment, and movement. When someone ignores instructions, the team diverts attention that should remain focused on collective safety.
At the airport, the effect ripples through lines, gates, and tarmacs. An incident may delay door closures, necessitate baggage removal, and disrupt the aircraft’s takeoff sequence.
This delay follows the aircraft throughout the day. The same aircraft flies multiple segments, and an hour lost in the morning can affect passengers in other cities at night. This is the domino effect of misconduct on the network.
The rule seeks to make this consequence visible before boarding. An awareness campaign will accompany its implementation to illustrate that inappropriate behavior does not just result in verbal warnings.
Sanctions Require Documentation and Right to Defense
Operators will be required to inform about the accusation, the imposed sanction, the fine or duration, and the channels for appeals. Records of incidents must be kept for up to five years, creating a documentary history to support decisions.
This procedure minimizes the scope for improvised penalties. Crew reports, images, testimonies, and documents must create a verifiable occurrence. The penalty cannot rely solely on a discussion at the counter.
The right to a fair hearing also protects passengers in the event of misidentification or misinterpretation. At the same time, it requires the company to accurately document facts, a task that demands well-trained staff and prepared systems.
The ban of up to one year applies to domestic flights. The duration will take into account the classification and process. The maximum penalty does not mean that every case will automatically result in the maximum sanction.
The fine of R$ 17,500 (about US$3,200) is also the limit for serious and very serious situations. The regulation uses a tiered approach specifically to differentiate between behavior, impact, risk, and recurrence.
Airlines and airports will need to coordinate information. A passenger who is banned cannot simply buy a ticket through another channel and arrive at the gate without the restriction being recognized in a secure and respectful manner.
This integration must observe data protection and restricted access. A sanction registry contains sensitive information about behavior and cannot become an exposed list or an instrument for public shaming.
Safety Depends on the Behavior of All
Crew members do not create instructions to annoy passengers. Seat belts, baggage, seating arrangements, electronic devices, and passenger movement respond to phases of the operation. Quickly complying reduces preparation time and allows the crew to focus on abnormal situations.
We may not realize how much a single incident costs. In addition to delays, there are fuel costs, crew time, missed connections, passenger assistance, and network reorganization. Depending on the case, the company may seek compensation for damages.
This does not eliminate the right to file a complaint. Passengers can question delays, service, and treatment through the appropriate channels. The boundary lies in transforming dissatisfaction into threats, aggression, or disobedience to safety commands.
For airport and cabin workers, the regulation offers a common reference. Instead of very different responses among companies, it establishes a sequence and allows for the classification of incidents according to national criteria.
For passengers, the message is clear: the ticket does not authorize putting the operation at risk. Those who exceed the limit may face financial consequences and temporarily lose access to domestic air transport.
Success will depend on balanced enforcement. Punishment without evidence leads to disputes; tolerance in the face of aggression exposes workers and passengers. Record keeping, training, and transparency will be just as important as the imposed values.
Starting September 14, the first cases will reveal how the tiered approach functions. Only practice will allow for an evaluation of whether the rule reduces occurrences and prevents delays without creating disproportionate punishments.
Pre-trip communication can help prevent some conflicts. Airlines and airports should clearly explain examples, complaint channels, and consequences in accessible language, without turning the terminal into a threatening environment.
Crew members need training to de-escalate tension. Speaking clearly, documenting refusals, and seeking support at the right moment reduces the chance of a minor disagreement escalating into physical confrontation.
Passengers who witness an incident should also follow guidance. Recording may interfere with movement or expose individuals; standing up during restricted phases adds another problem to the crew’s workload.
Analyzing records will help identify the most frequent routes, times, and types of incidents. With data, the sector can adjust training and communication, rather than merely reacting to the most visible episodes.
Reducing unruliness requires prevention and predictable consequences. The new regulation provides the second part; companies and passengers will need to build the first part on every trip.
Do you think fines and boarding suspensions will reduce cases of unruliness at airports and on planes?
