Banned From Airline For Protest

[beso]

A man walked off a plane as part of a protest about an asylum seekers whose application had been declined and was in the process of being deported.

The man was subsequently issued with a no-fly order on the airline and its partners while a review was in process.

Do you think the airline's action is justified?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/qantas-passenger-banned-after-asylum-seeker-walkout-20150302-13svcn.html

[EDDIE51]

An airline can refuse to carry a passenger for their own reasons, there is no legal 'right' to carriage. This person disrupted a flight and the airline have chosen not to carry him. That is for the airline alone to decide.
If nothing was done we could soon end up with passengers refusing to fly because they did not approve of the other passengers. Arabs refusing to fly if there were Israelis on the plane ( or vice versa) for example.

[New Judge]

Yes, airlines are a bit touchy when it comes to individuals delaying their aircraft. It costs them huge amounts of money and it disrupts other passengers.

Apparently this flight was delayed for more than an hour as a result of this incident. It is not said what aircraft was involved but study figures show that a lengthy "at gate" delay of a 250 seat aircraft costs the airline upwards of $250 per minute, meaning the loss attributable to this incident may have been as much as $15,000.

Mr Leary has filed a complaint with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal's human rights division, on the grounds that the ban discriminates against him on the basis of his political belief. He may receive short shrift.

[Baldric]

Yes, fully within the rules!

[wildwood]

Protesting on a plane over sensitive issues should not never be tolerated. It can easily become disruptive and incite innocent passengers to take sides to the point where it becomes dangerous to all passengers.

I personally have no passion for Qantas, but feel that they have acted in the interest of all other passengers on this and other flights, which must be commended.

[Jackdaw33]

Quite right. If I objected to a passenger I would get off the bus and wait for the next one.

[mibn2cweus]

Just because some others might do something wrong for the wrong reason is no reason to penalise someone for doing something right for the right reason.

[jno]

it does not appear that the hour's delay was caused by these two people leaving the plane, but by other more militant protesters - not connected with these two - refusing to sit down. They are, it seems, being punished for others' actions. I don't see how this can be right.

[beso]

It isn't punishment.

It is a judgement that they have the potential to cause disruptions in future.

I fully support the airline. I hope the main protesters are made to pay the costs.