Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has called for a ban on alcohol sales at airport bars before early-morning flights, citing a sharp increase in disruptive passenger behaviour. The airline now diverts nearly one flight per day on average due to onboard incidents, up from one per week a decade ago.
O'Leary's stance on early drinking
In an interview with the Times, O'Leary questioned the necessity of serving beer at five or six in the morning. "Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?" he said. He argued that airport bars should not be exempt from standard licensing hours, which restrict alcohol sales in other venues. "There should be no alcohol served at airports outside [those] licensing hours," he added.
Two-drink limit proposal
O'Leary also suggested a two-drink limit for passengers at airports, though he did not specify whether this would apply to Ryanair flights. He criticised airports for profiteering from early-morning alcohol sales, especially during delays, saying they are "quite happy to send these people as much alcohol as they want because they know they're going to export the problem to the airlines."
Being drunk on a plane is a criminal offence in the UK, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years' imprisonment. Ryanair began legal action in January last year against disruptive passengers to recover costs from diversions, including a case in Ireland seeking €15,000 (£12,500) in damages.
Industry calls for action
Budget airline Jet2 recently called for a national database to allow airlines to share information and collectively ban disruptive passengers. The rising number of incidents has prompted airlines to push for stricter regulations on airport alcohol sales.
