A CAMPAIGN to warn passengers not to get drunk before boarding a flight has been launched at Glasgow Airport.

Ahead of the busy summer holiday season airport bosses are highlighting their campus watch scheme.

The initiative is designed to identify potential disruptive passengers at an early stage and ensure they are warned about their behaviour.

Airport bosses say the initiative has had some success with a 50% reduction in offences in the last two years.

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Other UK airports have visited Glasgow to see the scheme in operation.

It involves ground staff, bar and restaurant workers, shop staff and security personnel sharing information and reporting passengers at risk of committing an offence or being a nuisance to other travellers.

Staff are given training and support from Police Scotland to help them take part in the scheme.

The airport launched the 2019 summer season Campus Watch with a visit from the UK aviation Minister Baroness Vere.

Mark Johnston, Glasgow Airport Managing Director, said: “Instances of disruptive behaviour at Glasgow Airport remain extremely rare and I’m confident our Campus Watch programme has played a key role in ensuring the vast majority of our passengers travel through the airport safely, responsibly and without incident.

“Offences involving disruptive behaviour were halved last year at Glasgow Airport and we are seeing a further reduction this year to date, so Campus Watch is having a positive effective and our zero-tolerance approach is getting through to the tiny minority who fail to act in a responsible manner.

“For many of our passengers, the arrival at the airport signals the start of their holiday and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. We want to ensure our passengers continue to enjoy a pleasant, safe and disruption-free journey and Campus Watch is in place to ensure it’s a memorable one for the right reasons.”

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Airport staff will report people at risk of committing disruptive behaviour, such as those under the influence of alcohol, to the airport’s central control room.

The information is shared with staff across the airport via a rapid text alert system and passengers can be given warnings about their behaviour, monitored by police and airport staff.

They can also be refused alcohol at bars and restaurants and if their behaviour continues to cause concern, they could eventually be stopped from boarding their flight.

The campaign also includes; Police Scotland patrols at the drop-off area ahead of potentially problematic flights.

New Campus Watch awareness material displayed across the airport

Airlines make airport-based Police Scotland officers aware of group bookings

Police Scotland officers make themselves known to large groups arriving at the airport.

Duty free staff will also remind passengers the alcohol they purchase is for export only and cannot be consumed in the airport or on board an aircraft.

Baroness Vere said: “Disruptive behaviour can be extremely distressful for those on board, threaten the safety of aircraft and be inconvenient for passengers if planes are forced to divert to offload perpetrators. It is right that passengers and staff are protected from such behaviour.”