Michael O'Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, has called for a prohibition on the sale of alcohol at airport bars during early morning hours. O'Leary, who has led the airline since 1993, stated that his company is compelled to redirect flights almost on a daily basis due to intoxicated and belligerent travellers.
Alcohol Sales at Airports Under Scrutiny
Currently, airport pubs are exempt from the standard licensing regulations that govern bars outside such environments. O'Leary, aged 65, contends that altering this policy would benefit his airline and others by mitigating aggressive incidents in the air. He remarked, "I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o'clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time? There should be no alcohol served at airports outside [those] licensing hours."
Recent Incidents Highlight the Problem
A man was recently sentenced to imprisonment for causing disruption and fear on a Ryanair flight from Poland to Bristol. Stephen Blofield's case is among several recent examples of passengers behaving aggressively after consuming alcohol. According to The Times, O'Leary has advocated for a two-drink per-person limit "for many years" and accused airports of "profiteering" from the problematic travel ritual and "exporting the problem to the airlines."
O'Leary emphasised that Ryanair is "reasonably responsible" with onboard alcohol service, rarely serving more than two drinks to a passenger. However, he noted that drug use has compounded the issue, leading passengers to become confrontational. Footage recently emerged of a violent altercation on a Jet2 flight from Antalya, Turkey, to Manchester, resulting in bans for two individuals.
Legal Consequences and Enforcement
O'Leary reminded passengers that being drunk on an aircraft is a criminal offence, punishable by up to two years in prison and substantial fines. Threatening or abusive behaviour can lead to further prosecution, including compensation fees and legal action in the country where the aircraft is forced to land. Flights from the UK to Ibiza, Alicante, and Tenerife have been particularly problematic. Last year, a former soldier who sexually assaulted four Jet2 cabin crew members on a flight to Tenerife was jailed.
O'Leary, a father of four from Kanturk, County Cork, reiterated his call for stricter alcohol regulations at airports to ensure safer travel for all passengers.
