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Ryanair urges EU limits on airport alcohol sales after costly disruption

Ryanair urges EU limits on airport alcohol sales after costly disruption
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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.

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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.

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