Think before you drink & fly: you could be fined up to R1.4m

The British government has launched a new campaign to crack down on booze-fuelled bad behaviour in the skies. As part of the One Too Many campaign, 10 British airports are putting up digital displays and handing out pamphlets warning of the consequences of drunk and disorderly conduct in the air.

Offenders could be fined up to £5,000 (around R87,000) and jailed for up to two years - "just" for bad behaviour. If the plane has to be diverted, the fine rises to £80,000 (about R1.4m) to cover the cost of an unscheduled landing.

Police officers and employees at the nine airports - Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Southampton and Aberdeen - have been ordered to be extra vigilant about stopping drunk passengers before they board and warning them to behave.

The campaign also warns that airlines have the right to ban people for life if their antics disrupt flights.

Last month, low-cost carrier Jet2 reported it had banned a passenger for life, after a Belfast-to-Ibiza flight had to be diverted to Toulouse Airport, "due to the appalling behaviour of a disruptive passenger".

The customer "displayed deplorable and aggressive behaviour to crew and fellow customers on board, something which cannot and will not be tolerated," it said.