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Flight disruption caused by unruly passengers has surged since the end of the pandemic, leading Ryanair to demand airports impose restrictions on how much flyers are allowed to drink before boarding a plane.
The number of incidents caused by disruptive passengers has more than doubled since 2019, from about 100 per quarter to 200-250 in the first two quarters of 2024, according to data reported to the UK aviation regulator seen by the Financial Times.
As disturbances mount, Ryanair said governments across Europe should force airports to limit passengers to a maximum of two alcoholic drinks per flight.
Europe’s leading low-cost airline added that passengers were consuming “excess” alcohol without any limits during flight delays in particular, and called on aviation authorities to take action to limit the sale of drinks at airports.
“Airlines, like Ryanair, already restrict and limit the sale of alcohol on board our aircraft, particularly in disruptive passenger cases,” the Dublin-based airline said.
The carrier said it “failed to understand” why passengers were not limited to two drinks using their boarding passes, “as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft”.
It also disclosed further details of a legal claim it is making against an Irish passenger to recover €15,000 of costs it said were incurred “wholly and exclusively” as a result of the individual’s behaviour on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in April last year.
“As a direct result of this disruptive passenger behaviour, over 160 passengers and six crew were forced to divert to, and overnight in Porto airport, and then flew onwards to Lanzarote on the following day 10th April 2024,” the airline said.
The UK industry data, compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority, showed that incident levels had eased since reaching a peak of more than 300 per quarter in 2022 and 2023. However, the average number of diversions per flight also nearly doubled between 2019 and 2023, the figures showed.
But airports hit back against Ryanair’s suggestion.
Airports Council International Europe, the Brussels-based industry trade body, said in a statement that airlines should manage unruly passengers “by exercising their right to refuse boarding or onboard service”.
It added that Ryanair’s proposals would be ineffective “if passengers were still to be offered unrestricted access to alcohol in-flight”.
“This issue is limited to a small minority of passengers, making a blanket solution that penalises responsible consumption by holidaymakers and other travellers unnecessary,” ACI Europe added.
AirportsUK, the UK trade association, said: “Airports are working closely with all their partners, including retailers, bars and restaurants, airlines and police, and have a wide range of measures in place to monitor and tackle disruptive behaviour and ensure everyone’s safety.”
Anna Bowles, head of consumer at the CAA, said passengers risked paying the costs if a plane was diverted because of the disruptive behaviour.
“This type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and can pose a risk to aircraft safety,” she said.
