New flight rule in Turkey: If you get up too early, you have to pay!

New flight rule in Turkey: If you get up too early, you have to pay!

Turkey has introduced a new regulation for air travelers, which has been in force since May 2, 2025. According to Turkey's General Directorate of Civil Aviation, after landing on the plane, passengers must remain strapped in until the plane reaches its parking position. This measure aims to improve safety during the landing approach and after landing. Complaints and inspections show that many passengers have ignored the requirement to wear seat belts in the past, which has often led to dangerous situations.

Airlines are now obliged to point out the new seatbelt requirement and make it clear that failure to comply with this rule can result in fines. Violators face penalties of around 60 euros, although the exact amount of the fine remains unclear. In addition, passengers who jostle after the seat belt signs have gone out or get up too early can also be held accountable.

Measures to enforce the rules

New announcements will be required in airline cabins: “It is strictly forbidden to open overhead bins or stand in the aisle before the aircraft has reached its parking position and the seat belt signs have gone out.” Passengers should be warned several times not to get up until it is their turn. Comprehensive information has already been provided about the regulation; Turkish Airlines, for example, has trained its crews accordingly and provided them with new information.

The new regulation classifies travelers who unfasten their seatbelts too early as “passengers traveling irregularly.” The crew has the right to report such violations to the General Directorate, which may lead to appropriate fine proceedings. The sounds of clicking seat belts and cell phones often heard in the cabin show how often passengers ignore the new rule. A common problem is injuries that occur when passengers try to remove their luggage prematurely.

It remains to be seen how effective this new regulation will prove to be in practice. The aim is to both increase passenger safety and promote proper behavior after landing. The regulation was originally introduced due to the many complaints about impatient passengers and could therefore represent a paradigm shift in the handling of air traffic safety regulations in Turkey.

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