Crew aboard Emirates flight EK449 from Auckland to Dubai say the seat belt message is getting through. The Airbus A380′s premium onboard lounge is fitted with seat belts and following high-profile turbulence incidents on other airlines, more passengers are buckling up, flight attendants said at the weekend. Signs advising passengers to sit with seat belts on are displayed more frequently.

At the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) annual gathering, held in Dubai this week, turbulence was a hot topic. The association’s director general Willie Walsh is a former pilot and airline executive and said more members were sharing data on the incidence and threat of turbulence The meeting comes after dozens of people were injured in a terrifying 54m drop aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Changi. One man died of a suspected heart attack.

Those injured, including crew on duty, weren’t buckled in. A few days later some passengers were injured on Qatar Airways flight over Turkey . Aboard EK449 to Dubai, a flight attendant said in light turbulence the crew would continue to serve meals but when the flight deck warns of more severe bumps (which can be predicted) the crew will pause service.

The attendant also said she’d also noticed more passengers putting seat belts on in the bar, even when it is smooth flying. One traveller, Richard, said he’d always belted up when seated but the Singapore Airlines incident, followed by another on a Qatar Airways pl.