Flights are cracking down on ‘barebeaters’ with 1,200,000 Brits at risk of fines

Every year, millions of Brits travel to India, so it’s worth knowing what you can and can’t do on board a flight.

In fact, the latest figures show that a whopping 1.2 million UK travellers headed to the South Asian country, in 2024.

But now, Indian authorities are reminding passengers that there’s one flying habit that could land you in serious trouble.

While speaking in parliament last week, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol reminded travellers that, under Indian aviation rules, using headphones during flights is mandatory.

That means no playing your favourite music, downloaded TikToks or bingeable series aloud.

And, those who don’t comply could be legally punished for ‘unruly behaviour.’

During the speech, Mohal didn’t indicate any new punishments, but ratherreiterated the current laws. He added that the only music legally allowed to be played in aircraft cabins is the elevator-esque instrumental sounds that occur when boarding and disembarking.

The minister then highlighted that the in-flight entertainment system is available for travellers who want to keep themselves occupied.

Mohal noted that authorities would ‘act on complaints,’ a sentiment echoed in the existing rules by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which state that airlines in India can act against said behaviours on board.

He then drew attention to Rules 22, 23, and 29 of the Aircraft Rules of 1937 that cover disruptive behaviour on board an aircraft. They state that disruptive passengers can be removed, restrained or face penalties.

It reads: ‘[Disruptive behaviour] interferes with the performance of duties of crew members, jeopardises the safety of the aircraft, persons or property on board, affects good order and discipline, or causes discomfort to other passengers and crew members’ may warrant legal action.’

While Mohal didn’t explicitly lay out what these penalities are, disrupting an Indian flight can lead to serious consequences, from flight bans and hefty fines, to time in prison.

While it’s safe to assume that the consequences for not using headphones wouldn’t be as severe as more serious crimes, such as assaulting a crew member, even a slap on the wrist is no way to start a trip.

‘Barebeating’ is plaguing London transport

In 2025, the UK attempted to tackle a similar issue. London Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a campaign with Transport for London (TfL), which encouraged people to use headphones while travelling on public transport.

The annoying trend, known as ‘barebeating,’ in which a passenger pulls out their phone and plays music, watches YouTube videos, or even has a full-blown conversation on speaker, was found to be disruptive to 70% of travellers according to a poll.

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, said at the time: ‘The vast majority of Londoners use headphones when travelling on public transport in the capital, but the small majority who play music or videos out loud can be a real nuisance to other passengers and directly disturb their journeys.’

Dance added that the TfL campaign will ‘remind and encourage Londoners to always be considerate of other passengers.’

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