Ryanair boss calls for two-drink limit at airports

Limiting alcohol could reduce flight disruptions claims O’Leary.

Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, has called for a limit on the number of alcoholic drinks served to passengers at airports with the intention of reducing the increasing incidents of disruptive behaviour on flights.

According to Mr O’Leary, the growing problem of violent outbursts on flights is often linked to alcohol consumption. Such incidents are occurring on a weekly basis, he said, and the situation is made worse when alcohol is combined with other substances. “We don’t want to prevent people from enjoying a drink,” O’Leary explained in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. “However, we don’t let people drink and drive, yet we are allowing them to fly at 33,000 feet under the influence.”

Mr O’Leary noted that flight crews and other passengers have increasingly become targets of aggression. The problem is exacerbated by flight delays, which lead to longer drinking periods at airports. “In the past, if someone had too much to drink, they would eventually just pass out or fall asleep,” he said. “Now, however, passengers might also be under the influence of tablets or other substances, which creates a dangerous mix. This leads to far more aggressive behaviour, which can be very difficult to control.”

He also pointed out the challenges airlines face in identifying intoxicated passengers at the boarding gate, especially if they are travelling in groups. “As long as they can stand and walk, they can get through the gate,” he observed. “It’s only once the flight is in the air that we start to see the misbehaviour.”

Ryanair has already taken steps to address this issue by searching passengers’ bags for alcohol before boarding flights to popular party destinations, such as Ibiza. Other locations with similar problems include several Greek islands.

A spokesperson for AirportsUK commented that disruptive behaviour, regardless of the cause, is “unacceptable and can lead to severe consequences.” Such consequences include fines, being denied boarding, or even up to two years in prison. The spokesperson added that airports have “a variety of measures in place to monitor and manage disruptive behaviour, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all passengers.”

They emphasised that airports are dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for travellers. “We are pleased that the vast majority of passengers behave responsibly and continue to enjoy their journeys,” the spokesperson said.

In response to Mr O’Leary’s comments, Tim Martin, chairman of the Wetherspoon pub chain, mentioned that their busiest airport pub had not received any complaints recently. “To my knowledge, we have not had any issues reported by airport authorities or airlines,” Martin said. He also noted that if their staff identify a potentially disruptive customer, they notify airport security and police immediately.

While acknowledging that there is “no perfect solution” to the problem, Martin stated that “collaborating with airports, airlines, and licensing authorities” helps to maintain a reasonable balance for outgoing flights.