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02 January 2020

Montreal Protocol 2014 Enters into Force

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Unruly Passengers

Montreal Protocol 2014 is in force starting from 1 January 2020 in the states that have ratified it or acceded to it. To view the current list of states that have done so, please click here, whereby this link is constantly updated by ICAO.


A. Montreal Protocol 2014 Following the Tokyo Convention of 1963 

The Tokyo Convention of 1963 gives jurisdiction over offenses committed onboard aircraft to the state of registration of the aircraft. There were loopholes in the convention that allow unruly passengers to escape law enforcement for serious offences committed on board aircraft.

ICAO held a Diplomatic Conference late March 2014 in Montreal. More than 100 governments attended and adopted a Protocol that amends Tokyo Convention. The new protocol significantly improves the ability of ICAO member states to expand jurisdiction over related offenses to the state of the operator and the state of landing.  The agreed changes give greater clarity to the definition of unruly behavior (such as including the threat of or actual physical assault, or refusal to follow safety-related instructions). The changes will come into force when 22 states ratify the protocol.

AACO has joined IATA and other airline associations in adopting a joint position paper urging states to prioritize the ratification, acceptance or accession to the Montreal Protocol 2014. In particular the parties of the joint position paper urged states to:

  • Prioritize the ratification of the 'Protocol to amend the Convention on Offences and Certain other Acts Committed on board Aircraft' (Montreal Protocol 2014).
  • Consider the adoption or amendment of supporting domestic legislation to secure the proper activation of jurisdictional and prosecution powers using ICAO Circular 288 as a guide.
  • Raise public awareness of the consequences of failing to follow crew instructions or commit unruly behavior.

Please click here to download the full version of the joint position paper.

Please click here to view Montreal Protocol 2014.


B. AACO AGM Resolutions

AACO 47th AGM agreed unanimously on its Resolution 6/2014 on Unruly Passengers, which called for three main points that help in empowering governments to prosecute unruly passengers on board flights.

AACO 49th AGM, held in 2016, adopted a resolution on unruly behavior inflight as follows:

Recalling AACO 47th AGM resolution 6/2014 that called upon governments to prioritize the ratification of Montreal Protocol 2014;
Supporting ICAO efforts in urging states to ratify/ join Montreal Protocol 2014; 
Recognizing that unruly passenger incidents are increasingly becoming a problematic issue affecting the safety and security of flights while causing inconveniences to other passengers; 
AACO 49th AGM:
1.  Reaffirms the urgency of the ratification of Montreal Protocol 2014 by governments to have an international legal instrument come into force that would strengthen dealing with unruly passengers in a more effective way, and would help in preventing future incidents. 
2.  Asks AACO to continue its work in this area by contacting governments and in particular Arab governments to encourage them to ratify Montreal Protocol 2014. 
3.  Asks AACO as well to continue working with ICAO, IATA and ACAO to promote the ratification of the Protocol.

AACO 51st AGM urged governments, that have not ratified Montreal Protocol 2014, to do so as a matter of urgency in order to have an international legal instrument come into force that would strengthen dealing with unruly passengers in a more effective way, and would help in preventing future incidents.


C. Advocacy

AACO worked on a campaign that involved communication between Arab airlines and the relevant ministries in their states in order to advocate for the ratification of Montreal Protocol 2014.
AACO and IATA jointly communicated with Civil Aviation Authorities and relevant ministers as well highlighting the benefits of the protocol and urging the states to ratify it. 
On the other hand, AACO, joined by IATA, coordinated with the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) to have the issue discussed at the ACAO level as well.

 

D. Resolutions of the Council of Arab Transport Ministers

The Arab Transport Ministers, in their 27th term in 2014, urged the Arab states to join Montreal Protocol 2014.

Also, at the 29th term in 2016, the Council of Arab Transport Ministers reaffirmed the 2014 resolution and urged Arab governments to ratify the protocol. 


E. Ratification Status

-  In February 2016, Bahrain ratified Montreal Protocol 2014.
-  In June 2016, Jordan ratified Montreal Protocol 2014. 
-  In June 2017, Egypt deposited its original instrument of accession to Montreal Protocol 2014 at ICAO.
- In December 2018, Kuwait ratified Montreal Protocol 2014.
- On 1 August 2020, Montreal Protocol 2014 became effective in Qatar.

- Oman deposited its instruments of accession and became a party to the Montreal Protocol 2014 on 1 April 2023.

- United Arab Emirates deposited its instruments of ratification and became a party to the Montreal Protocol 2014 on 1 May 2023.

- Tunisia deposited its instrument of ratification to the Montreal Protocol 2014  on 1 January 2024.

Montreal Protocol is applicable so far in forty seven states. The Protocol came into force on 1 January 2020.

 

Last updated in January 2024

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