Brits flying to Turkey warned of £50 fine before their holiday has even started

A new rule is being imposed by the Turkish civil aviation authority that could see Brits charged £50 before their holiday even begins. Turkey has grown into a popular sun holiday destination for Brits, and many holidaymakers from the UK will be flying to the Asian country this summer to visit seaside resorts and experience the scorching temperatures. But there is a new rule that British travellers need to be aware of when flying to Turkey in 2025.

Turkish media is reporting that fines of around £50 will be imposed on tourists who stand up before the seatbelt sign is turned off after the plane has landed. The authority has reported a "serious increase" in such behaviour, and the new rule was introduced earlier in May to curb the habit. Complaints have described plane passengers grabbing overhead luggage before the plane has even parked.

The authority says that airlines now have to issue an in-flight announcement about the rule and report passengers who do not follow these orders. As per usual, passengers will be told to remain in their seats with their seatbelts fastened until the seatbelt sign is turned off.

The country's national carrier, Turkish Airlines, has addressed the new rule in a statement, Euronews reports. The airline said: "Passengers who do not comply with the rules will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through a Disruptive Passenger Report, and an administrative fine will be imposed in accordance with the applicable legal regulations."

Popular destinations in Turkey for Brits include Istanbul, Antalya and Bodrum. According to Travel Weekly, Turkey has seen a significant increase in tourists visiting from the UK.

The publication reports that a staggering 4.4 million UK travellers visited the country last year, marking a 16.6% increase. Additionally, Turkey reported a 9.8% year-on-year increase in visitor numbers to 62.3 million in 2024.

Direct flights to Turkey depart from several UK airports, including London Stansted Airport, London Gatwick Airport, Manchester Airport, Birmingham Airport and Edinburgh Airport.

Director General Kemal Yüksek of the Turkish Directorate of Civil Aviation said that getting up before the seatbelt sign is switched off poses risk to both passenger and baggage safety. The fine may be issued if a passenger stands up, undoes their seatbelt, opens an overhead compartment, crowds the aisle while the plane is still taxiing or steps out into the aisle before it is their row's turn to exit.