Flying into Turkey? Wait your turn to stand up on the plane or face a fine
When an aircraft lands at its destination, there are two kinds of people waiting to disembark: those waiting for their aisle's turn before standing to retrieve luggage and those immediately standing to retrieve their bags from overhead when the seatbelt light turns off.
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Effective May 2, those who do the latter when landing in Turkey could be fined.
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The country's ministry of transport introduced the new regulation in response to 'a serious increase' in the number of travellers doing so even before the plane had finished taxiing to the gate and with the seatbelt warning still in place, despite the established norm and the warning from the flight crew.
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'Do not stand up or proceed in the aisle before it is your turn to exit. Passengers who do not comply with the rules will be reported … and an administrative fine will be imposed in accordance with the applicable legal regulations.'
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The fine will come from the government, not the airline, whose role is only to file a 'passenger ignorance report' to Yüsek's office.
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Turkish Airlines, the behemoth flagship carrier that flies to a world-leading 131 countries, has already adopted the boilerplate sample on its flights, according to travel blogger site One Mile at a Time and Visa Digital Nomad.
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At long-running travel site View From the Wing, blogger Gary Leff took on the sometimes polarizing topic and wrote earlier this year that not only is it acceptable, but more people should do it.
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He said it speeds up deplaning for everyone, and it's courteous to the person hemmed in the middle seat.
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ANKARA, Turkey — Airline passengers in Turkey who unbuckle their seat belts, access overhead compartments, or occupy the aisle before their plane has fully stopped now face fines under new regulations issued by the country's civil aviation authority. Article content Article content The updated rules, which aim to enhance safety and ensure a more orderly disembarkation, came into effect earlier this month. They were adopted following passenger complaints and flight inspections indicated a growing number of safety violations during taxiing after landing, according to the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation. Article content Article content It is not unusual in Turkey for passengers to stand up or move inside the cabin soon after the plane has landed, often leading to chaotic disembarkation. Article content Article content Under the new regulations, commercial airlines operating flights in Turkey are required to issue a revised version of the standard in-flight announcement to remain seated, warning that violations will be documented and reported, according to a circular issued by the aviation authority. Article content Passengers are also reminded to wait for those in front of them to exit first instead of rushing forward. Article content The circular does not say how much passengers who disregard the regulations could be fined, but Turkish media reports have said fines of up to $70 will be imposed. Article content 'Despite announcements informing passengers of the rules, many are standing up before the aircraft reaches its parking positions and before the seat belt sign is turned off,' the aviation authority noted. Article content
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Published May 28, 2025 • 1 minute read A Turkish Airlines plane takes off from Istanbul Airport near the Black Sea shores, in Istanbul, on April 6, 2019. Photo by Lefteris Pitarakis / AP ANKARA, Turkey — Airline passengers in Turkey who unbuckle their seat belts, access overhead compartments, or occupy the aisle before their plane has fully stopped now face fines under new regulations issued by the country's civil aviation authority. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The updated rules, which aim to enhance safety and ensure a more orderly disembarkation, came into effect earlier this month. They were adopted following passenger complaints and flight inspections indicated a growing number of safety violations during taxiing after landing, according to the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation. It is not unusual in Turkey for passengers to stand up or move inside the cabin soon after the plane has landed, often leading to chaotic disembarkation. Under the new regulations, commercial airlines operating flights in Turkey are required to issue a revised version of the standard in-flight announcement to remain seated, warning that violations will be documented and reported, according to a circular issued by the aviation authority. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Passengers are also reminded to wait for those in front of them to exit first instead of rushing forward. The circular does not say how much passengers who disregard the regulations could be fined, but Turkish media reports have said fines of up to $70 will be imposed. 'Despite announcements informing passengers of the rules, many are standing up before the aircraft reaches its parking positions and before the seat belt sign is turned off,' the aviation authority noted. 'This behaviour compromises the safety of passengers and baggage, disregards the satisfaction and exit priority of other travelers,' it said. There have been no immediate reports confirming that the newly introduced fines are being enforced. Turkey is a popular travel destination, drawing millions of tourists every year. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs News Canada
