Quantcast

Ryanair urges EU limits on airport alcohol sales after costly disruption

Ryanair urges EU limits on airport alcohol sales after costly disruption
Policy
Webp 9d8e4n9zvnq6npvse1f7c4oouh5n
Airbus A380 | Airbus

Ryanair, the European low-cost airline, is urging EU authorities to impose a limit of two alcoholic drinks per passenger at airports. This request follows an incident involving a disruptive passenger that cost the airline over $18,200. The costs included excess fuel, accommodation for passengers and crew overnight, legal fees, and other expenses after a flight was diverted to Porto Airport.

The Dublin-based carrier is pursuing civil proceedings against the passenger in Ireland to recover these costs. A spokesperson for Ryanair stated, "It is time that EU authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports. Airlines, like Ryanair, already restrict and limit the sale of alcohol onboard our aircraft." The spokesperson emphasized that limiting airport alcohol sales would lead to safer behavior onboard.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has also spoken out about violent incidents related to alcohol consumption on flights. He noted that such occurrences are frequent and pose challenges in identifying intoxicated passengers during boarding.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The specific incident prompting this call for action occurred on April 9, 2024. A Ryanair flight from Dublin to Lanzarote had to divert to Porto due to a disruptive passenger who was arrested upon landing. This diversion led to additional costs for Ryanair as they had to accommodate passengers overnight and arrange for a replacement aircraft and crew.

Ryanair argues that these expenses were solely due to the disruptive behavior of one passenger. As such, they are seeking compensation through Irish courts.

Unruly passengers continue to be a significant issue for airlines worldwide. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported an increase in such incidents in recent years. In 2023 alone, there was one unruly incident for every 480 flights globally.

Addressing this problem requires enhanced international legal measures and improved prevention strategies according to industry experts. The Federal Aviation Administration has referred numerous serious cases of unruly behavior on flights for criminal prosecution since late 2021 as part of efforts with law enforcement agencies.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Airlines for America announced on X that it is promoting the 2025 joint ATA e-Business Forum & S1000D User Forum, scheduled for October 6–8 in Montreal, Canada.

Apr 21, 2025

Air India has announced on the social media platform X that it is promoting DigiYatra for contactless travel on domestic flights.

Apr 21, 2025

Flying Food Group has announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it is promoting open positions across the United States and encouraging job seekers to apply.

Apr 21, 2025

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced on the social media platform X that Hawaiian Airlines will be relocating its operations to Terminal 6.

Apr 21, 2025

Flying Food Group has announced on the social media platform X that it is hiring station attendants for airline catering positions in Hawaii.

Apr 21, 2025

Etihad Airways has announced its support for DigiYatra, an Indian government platform that facilitates contactless travel through facial recognition technology.

Apr 21, 2025