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Ryanair has called for passengers to be limited to two alcoholic drinks in EU airports after disruption by a customer mid-flight led to thousands of pounds in charges for Europe’s leading low-cost airline.
Ryanair said that during flight delays, passengers were consuming “excess” alcohol without any limits, and it “is time” that EU authorities took action to limit the sale of alcohol 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.
“We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty-free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe.”
The call comes as Ryanair disclosed further details of a legal claim it is taking against an Irish passenger to recover €15,000 of costs, which it said were incurred “wholly and exclusively” as a result of the passenger’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,” said Ryanair.
“None of these costs would have been incurred if this disruptive passenger had not forced a diversion to Porto in order to protect the safety of the aircraft, 160 passengers and six crew members on board.”
