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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has signalled a crackdown on unruly behaviour at airports and on planes over the upcoming Easter break.
The AFP has said that officers have noticed a “spike in bad behaviour” at major airports this year, and have charged 347 people with 408 offences in the year to 9 April, and 1,180 people with 1,442 criminal offences over the past 12 months.
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Recent reported incidents have included a man charged over an alleged attempt to open emergency exit doors on a Sydney-bound AirAsia flight from Kuala Lumpur, a fight between two male passengers on a Melbourne–Bali Jetstar service, and an assault on a Qantas staff member and two others at Sydney Airport.
“The AFP will increase high-visibility patrols through airport precincts this Easter period to keep travellers and workers safe and be ready to combat any criminal behaviour, with tens of thousands of airline passengers expected to travel,” it said in a press release.
AFP Aviation Commander Craig Bellis said high passenger numbers and potential longer waits can result in “a spike in bad behaviour, triggered by impatience or intoxication, at our airports”.
“Travellers should be aware bad behaviour can result in flight cancellations, airline bans, criminal convictions and hefty fines,” he said.
“So far in 2025, the AFP has responded to a mixed bag of incidents at our major airports including violent attacks, threats to ‘blow up’ flights and individuals trying to open plane doors while soaring above the clouds.
“Don’t ruin your holiday plans because of poor choices – your holiday destination will be much nicer than a police holding cell. Be patient, be mindful of your alcohol intake and follow airline advice.”
One airport that will receive the AFP’s focus is Darwin, which in the past 12 months has seen six passengers offloaded from planes and 30 turned back at gates due to intoxication.
According to the ABC, this likely stems in part from the high number of overnight flights leaving Darwin, with passengers travelling to the airport from pubs and clubs as a result.
Rob Porter, executive general manager for airports at Airport Development Group, called on passengers to treat each other and staff with “common courtesy and care”.
“We know travel can be stressful, particularly during busy periods like the Easter break, but there is no excuse for abusive or disruptive behaviour,” Porter said.
“Airport staff, whether they’re airline, hospitality, or security personnel, deserve to come to work without fear of aggression or harm.
“Disruptive behaviour doesn’t just affect those directly involved – it impacts everyone’s experience, from fellow travellers to frontline staff. We’re asking the travelling public to do their part, be mindful, drink responsibly, and follow the instructions of airport and airline personnel.”
The AFP’s news comes as airports and airlines gear up for a busy Easter season, with Virgin Australia alone set to operate more than 400,000 seats over the long weekend, while Sydney Airport, Australia’s largest, has forecast 2.5 million passengers during the Easter school holiday period.
Around 1 million of these Sydney passengers are expected to be international, making this year the airport’s busiest Easter for international travel since 2019.
