New Measures Urged as Drunken Aggression on Flights Reaches Alarming Levels
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, has proposed a two-drink per passenger limit at airports to combat the rise in alcohol-fueled violence aboard flights. Speaking to The Telegraph on Tuesday, O’Leary warned that aggressive behaviour on flights is now a weekly occurrence, with both passengers and cabin crew becoming victims of violent outbursts.
According to O’Leary, flights from the UK, especially those heading to popular party destinations like Ibiza and certain Greek islands, are most vulnerable to such incidents. Regional airports like Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh are particularly affected. In response, Ryanair has started inspecting passengers’ bags for alcohol before boarding, particularly on flights to Ibiza.
O’Leary highlighted a disturbing trend, noting that it’s no longer just excessive drinking that contributes to violence in the air. “In the past, people who drank too much would just fall over or fall asleep. Now, passengers are combining alcohol with tablets and powders, leading to much more aggressive behaviour that’s difficult to manage,” he explained. This mix, he added, results in fights not only between passengers and crew but also among passengers themselves.
Sinead Quinn, Ryanair’s head of cabin crew training, also commented on the situation, mentioning that the airline has had to implement passenger bans due to the increasing frequency of violent incidents, particularly in the UK. “There’s no particular profile,” Quinn said. “It could be young groups, families, or those you’d least expect.”
Currently, Ryanair allows passengers to bring duty-free alcohol on board but enforces a strict no-drinking policy during the flight. The airline has also implemented bans on certain duty-free items for flights from the UK to destinations like Ibiza, Alicante, and Barcelona, following incidents such as the removal of 15 drunk passengers from a Ryanair flight at Manchester Airport in April, which caused a five-hour delay.
Passengers caught concealing alcohol or bringing it on board against the rules face removal from the flight, with no refund or compensation. O’Leary’s call for a two-drink limit comes as part of Ryanair’s ongoing efforts to address the growing problem of in-flight disturbances.
