NEW YORK (AP) — Ryanair is urging European authorities to impose restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages at airports throughout the continent, as the Irish carrier pursues legal action against a passenger it claims caused a costly flight diversion last year. The budget airline is seeking over 15,000 euros ($15,324) in damages related to an incident in April 2024. Ryanair alleges that the passenger’s “inexcusable behavior” on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote in Spain’s Canary Islands was so disruptive that it necessitated the aircraft to divert to Porto, Portugal for safety reasons, resulting in an overnight delay for crew members and over 160 other passengers. Following the announcement of its civil lawsuit against the passenger, Ryanair disclosed additional information on Monday detailing the expenses incurred for excess fuel, accommodation, legal fees, and other costs stemming from the diversion. The airline also proposed a limitation on alcohol sales at airports across the European Union.
In a statement, Ryanair expressed, “It is time for EU authorities to take action to restrict the sale of alcohol at airports.” The airline questioned why passengers at airports are not restricted to a maximum of two alcoholic beverages (similar to how duty-free sales are limited) by using their boarding pass, suggesting that this measure could lead to safer and more orderly passenger behavior onboard aircraft, thereby enhancing the safety of travel experiences for passengers and crews across Europe. Ryanair noted that it, along with other airlines, already regulates alcohol sales inflight, but highlighted the potential for passengers to consume excessive alcohol at airports prior to boarding, especially during flight delays, without similar constraints.
Aviation agencies have long voiced concerns about disruptive incidents onboard flights, particularly those involving violence against others, verbal abuse, harassment, or health risks like smoking. While such occurrences remain infrequent, there has been a recent uptick in reports of unruly passengers. A spokesperson for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency commented on the rise in both the number and severity of incidents in Europe since 2020. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), there was one disruptive incident for every 480 flights in 2023, based on data from over 24,500 reports and 50 operators worldwide—a rise from one incident per 568 flights in 2022. The extent to which alcohol contributed to these incidents was not immediately clear.
Efforts to prevent in-flight disruptions have emphasized responsible alcohol service, prohibiting overly intoxicated travelers from boarding, and participating in safety initiatives like the “One Too Many” campaign in the U.K. The Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. registered 2,102 reports of unruly passenger incidents last year, resulting in $7.5 million in fines. Although the incident count increased by 1% from 2023, it remains significantly lower than the peak of 5,973 incidents reported in 2021.
