Ryanair is urging European authorities to consider limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages at airports across the continent following a disruptive incident that led to a costly flight diversion last year. The budget airline is seeking over 15,000 euros in damages over an incident in April 2024, where a passenger's behavior on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote forced the aircraft to divert to Porto, Portugal, causing delays for crew members and over 160 passengers.
Ryanair has detailed the costs incurred for excess fuel, lodging, legal fees, and more due to the diversion. The airline is now proposing a drink limit for airports in the European Union, suggesting that passengers should be restricted to two alcoholic drinks using their boarding pass, similar to duty-free sales regulations.
While airlines like Ryanair already limit alcohol sales in-flight, the concern is that passengers can still consume excessive alcohol at airports before boarding, especially during flight delays, without similar restrictions. Aviation agencies have been vocal about disruptive in-flight incidents, including violence, verbal abuse, harassment, and health hazards like smoking.
Reports of unruly passengers on planes have been increasing, with the International Air Transport Association noting one disruptive incident for every 480 flights in 2023, up from one every 568 in 2022. Efforts to prevent disruptive behavior include serving alcohol responsibly, not allowing intoxicated travelers to board, and safety initiatives like 'One Too Many' in the U.K.
In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration reported 2,102 unruly passenger incidents last year, resulting in $7.5 million in fines. While this incident count is up 1% from 2023, it remains significantly lower than the peak in 2021.
