As part of a new initiative to get the industry back into shape, Kenya’s aviation sector ratified travel regulations that adhere to international standards.
This came when the Protocol to Amend the Convention on Offenses and Other Acts While on Aircraft was submitted with the documents of accession, on the eve of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting in Montreal, Canada.
Passengers who make unwanted and aggressive attempts toward cabin workers will now be charged in accordance with the protocols following the implementation of the new rules.
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Kenyan travellers who damage the interior or exterior of an aeroplane will face consequences. The regulation will also target minor offenders who take aeroplane earpieces and other items with them after unplugging them.
The use of electronics while on board is prohibited, and disobeying crew orders to stop using them will result in serious consequences. Under the new regulations, it will also be illegal to consume illicit substances or be intoxicated by alcohol while on board.
“It has been noted that what generally happens in the street is now happening on board aircraft,” the ICAO report noted.
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The new tough regulations are intended to control incidents involving passengers who disregard the conduct guidelines while on the flight. They also target passengers who have an engrained tendency to disobey crew members’ directives, endangering the safety of flights.
The event was attended by representatives of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), including Director General Emile Arao, Kenya Airways MD Allan Kilavuka, and Immaculate Wambua, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Canada.
The protocol, which is now more commonly referred to as the Montreal Protocol of 2014, was enacted to increase states’ ability to prevent events involving disruptive passengers from getting worse.
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