Ryanair has called on European authorities to introduce stricter alcohol sale regulations in airports across the EU. This plea comes in the wake of a high-profile incident on a flight to the Canary Islands last year, which resulted in a costly diversion.
The airline is pursuing legal action against a passenger whose disruptive behaviour forced an April 2024 flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to land in Porto, Portugal, for safety reasons.
Ryanair claims the incident caused significant financial losses and widespread disruption, affecting over 160 passengers and the crew.
Costly Consequences
Ryanair is demanding more than €15,000 in damages, detailing the expenses incurred as follows:
The airline asserts that the diversion, prompted by the passenger’s alcohol-fuelled misbehaviour, stranded passengers overnight in Porto and required rebooking flights to complete the journey to Lanzarote.
The passenger in question was arrested by Portuguese authorities upon landing.
Ryanair’s Call for Action
The incident, one of many that Ryanair attributes to excessive alcohol consumption, has prompted the airline to renew its calls for tighter controls on alcohol sales in airports. A spokesperson stated, “EU authorities must act to limit alcohol consumption at airports to prevent incidents like this.”
The airline has already implemented restrictions on alcohol sales onboard its flights but argues that these measures are undermined by unrestricted consumption in airport bars, particularly during flight delays.
Proposed Solutions
Ryanair has proposed a limit of two alcoholic beverages per passenger at EU airports, aiming to improve safety and foster a more peaceful travel experience for both passengers and crew.
“A restriction of this nature would contribute to safer, more enjoyable travel across Europe,” the spokesperson concluded.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about alcohol consumption and passenger behaviour, an issue that continues to challenge airlines and airport authorities alike.