Road ragers in the sky

Answer these questions before you read the article.

1. What was your worst experience when travelling by air?

2. Why do some people get angry when they are travelling on a plane?

Check the meaning of the words:

interminable delays be cooped up cram(into aircraft)

sophisticated devices stiffer penalties concession

7Now read the article. Which of these statements are true about the article? Correct the false ones.

Road ragers in the sky

Airlines and their long-suffering customers are reporting a steep climb in air rage incidents. Some incidents are apparently caused by problems which are familiar to many regular travellers. One case reported from America stemmed from an interminable delay in takeoff, when passengers were cooped up in their aircraft on the tarmac for four hours, without food, drink or information. Mass unrest is less common then individual misbehaviour is less, as in the case of the convict who recently went crazy on a flight, attacked the crew and tried to open a door in mid-flight.

The psychology of air rage is a new area of study, and there are almost as many explanations as examples. Most analysts of the phenomenon blame alcohol, but many people now think that the airlines are at fault. To cut costs, they are cramming ever more passengers into their aircraft, while reducing cabin crew, training and quality of service, all of which increase passenger frustration. In addition, there is increasing concern in the US about another cost-cutting exercise, which could seriously harm passengers` health: cabin ventilation.

Modern aircraft are equipped with sophisticated air conditioning devices - but running them at optimum capacity burns up valuable aviation fuel. Many airlines routinely instruct their flight crew to run the systems on minimum settings. Campaigners for improved air quality claim that this can lead to irritability and disorientation.

In the US, the soaring number of passenger complaints across a wide range of issues is reflected in a number of new Internet sites which criticise the airlines and demand better service. One of the sites is demanding an air passengers` Bill of Rights.

Cabin and flight crews, who are in the front line of the battle against disruptive and dangerous in - flight behaviour, have called for stiffer penalties against the offenders. Management have also called for legislation - while denying that its cost-cutting practices have contributed to the problem. But there are some signs, in the US at least, that the airlines are et last attempting to respond to customer dissatisfaction. Some major lines have announced concessions to the most frequent complaint of all, and are removing seats to make more room for their customers.

From the Guardian.

1.People in groups are more likely to behave badly on planes. ____
2. Drink is often the cause of problems on board. ____
3. Arlines can do little to improve air quality. ____
4. Travellers are using new technology to express their dissatisfaction with airlines. ____
5. Airlines have taken no action to address travellers' concerns. ____

8Which of the following reasons are given for air rage in the article?

1. poor service ____
2.flights not leaving on time ____
3.poor quality of food ____
4.too many passengers on a plane ____
5.not feeling safe ____
6.people drinking alcohol ____
7.poor air quality ____
8.noisy passengers ____
9.not enough cabin crew ____

Which of the following words from the article have a negative meaning?

rage misbehaviour quality frustration

concern harm optimum valuable

irritability disorientation complaints criticise

disruptive dangerous dissatisfactio