Ryanair urges EU to tackle pre‑flight drinking crackdown
Ryanair is once again appealing for a two-drink limit per passenger at airport bars. This is a further step after the airline announced a "zero tolerance" policy for problematic customers who, for example, cause disturbances on board.
Last week, Ryanair began legal actions against passengers disrupting flights.
Ryanair has had enough of flight disruptions
The airline filed a civil lawsuit against a passenger from Ireland, seeking £13,000 in compensation for a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote, which, in April of last year, was diverted to Porto due to the defendant's aggressive behaviour.
The amount of £13,000 covers costs such as: accommodation for over 160 passengers and six crew members (£6,000), landing and handling fees at Porto airport (£2,200), and Portuguese legal fees (£2,200).
A Ryanair spokesperson said that European governments "repeatedly fail to act when passengers disrupt flight safety and force them to divert."
Ryanair's appeal to the EU
The spokesperson called for the European Union authorities to address the issue of alcohol sales at airports. They noted that airlines such as Ryanair are already restricting alcohol sales on board, particularly when dealing with disruptive passengers. However, during flight delays, passengers often consume excessive amounts of alcohol at airports, where there are no limits on purchases or consumption. The spokesperson questioned why airport passengers are not restricted to a maximum of two drinks.
Ryanair called for a two-drink limit already in August of last year. Michael O’Leary acknowledged that the low-cost airline observed an increase in passenger violence incidents over the summer, adding that the most disruptive flights were to Ibiza.
- They're getting on board with too much alcohol in their system. If we identify them as being drunk on board, we don't serve them alcohol. But that doesn't solve the problem - admitted the head of Ryanair.
The increase in incidents with intoxicated passengers prompted the airline not only to advocate for a two-drink limit and a ban on alcohol sales before 3:00 AM Greenwich Time. Further actions include a ban on bringing alcohol from certain airports and the possibility of denying boarding to passengers already intoxicated.
