Brazil’s ANAC allows airlines to ban unruly passengers from domestic flights for up to 1 year

Disruption overview

Brazil has brought a new ANAC rule into force that lets airlines suspend unruly passengers from regular domestic flights for 6 or 12 months, depending on how serious the onboard incident was. The measure, Resolution 800/2026, took effect on 14 September 2026 and covers offenses such as violence against crew, sexual assault, carrying or handling weapons or explosive devices, attempts to enter the cockpit without permission, and dangerous damage to safety equipment. Airlines must explain the incident and provide a way to appeal, while carriers will share passenger details so the suspension applies across domestic services. The rule does not directly create delay or cancellation compensation rights, but if your journey is separately disrupted, it’s still worth checking what support or compensation may apply.

Disruption details

Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, ANAC, has brought a new rule into force that allows airlines to suspend passengers from regular domestic commercial flights for 6 or 12 months after serious onboard misconduct. Resolution 800/2026 took effect on 14 September 2026, giving carriers a formal way to ban travelers from flying on domestic services during the penalty period.

For passengers, this means an incident on one airline can affect travel across the wider domestic network. If a suspension is applied, the traveler can be blocked from booking, checking in, or boarding any regular domestic flight in Brazil until the ban ends.

The rule uses a fixed list of offenses and is designed to strengthen safety for crew and passengers while discouraging dangerous behavior on board. It does not relate to a broader operational breakdown, and no immediate disruption to scheduled services has been reported.

The length of the suspension depends on how serious the conduct was:

• A 6-month suspension can apply in cases including physical violence against a crewmember that does not stop normal service, sexual assault against crew or passengers, or damage to safety equipment that does not affect the aircraft’s operation.

• A 12-month suspension can apply if violence stops the crew from doing their job, if weapons or explosive devices are carried or handled on board, if someone tries to enter the cockpit without permission or take control of the aircraft, or if safety equipment is damaged in a way that endangers the flight.

Airlines will need to follow a clear process before using the measure. They must notify the passenger, describe the incident, explain why the case fits the rule, and provide a way to appeal. The decision can be applied immediately or within 5 days of the incident.

To make the suspension apply across carriers, passenger identification data will be shared among airlines. In practice, that means a person who is banned by one carrier can be prevented from flying with others on regular domestic services during the same penalty period.

The new framework gives airlines more certainty because the offenses are listed in detail, but it could still lead to disputes over how behavior is classified, what evidence is enough, and whether the length of the ban fits the incident. Because the rule limits a person’s ability to travel, careful documentation and a fair process will matter.

That also means enforcement will need to be precise. Airlines must be able to show that the facts of each case match the specific offenses set out in the resolution, rather than relying on a broad or informal view of what counts as unacceptable behavior.

This rule is about onboard conduct, not flight disruption compensation. On its own, it does not trigger the same rights you might look for after a delayed or canceled flight.

But if your journey is separately disrupted by the airline, you could still have rights to care, rerouting, a refund, or compensation depending on the circumstances. If you’re unsure, AirHelp’s free flight checker is a simple way to see what may apply to your flight.

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