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Ryanair has called on European authorities to limit passengers to just two alcoholic drinks at airports, arguing that this move would lead to safer, more controlled behavior during flights. The airline's stance comes after an incident in which a passenger’s disruptive behavior led to a flight being diverted, costing the company €15,000 (about CZK 375,000).
While this proposal is part of Ryanair’s broader efforts to curb unruly passengers, it raises questions about whether similar measures should be implemented at airports like Prague's Václav Havel Airport.
Ryanair’s call for limits on alcohol consumption
According to Ryanair, the issue is not about the alcohol served during flights, which airlines can control themselves, but about the behavior of passengers who consume large amounts of alcohol in airport bars before boarding.
The airline’s legal action against a disruptive passenger who caused a flight diversion last year highlights the importance of this issue. The flight, which was traveling from Dublin to Lanzarote, had to be diverted to Porto after a passenger's disruptive behavior, resulting in significant costs for the airline.
“We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty-free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe,” Ryanair said in a statement.
The airline went on to highlight that excessive drinking during flight delays has become a common issue at airports, where passengers often have no limit on the amount of alcohol they can purchase or consume before boarding their flight.
Ryanair's proposal involves a system where passengers would be required to show their boarding passes when purchasing alcohol at airport bars and pubs, much like the current restrictions placed on duty-free shopping. This would help prevent excessive drinking and ensure that passengers are sober when they board the plane, minimizing the risk of disruptive behavior once on board.
The airline also stated that its proposal would lead to a safer environment for both passengers and crews, calling for EU authorities to take immediate action. "It is time that EU authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports," Ryanair added.
Disruptive passengers in Prague
While Ryanair's call is focused on the broader European context, recent incidents in Czechia highlight the growing concern over drunk passengers in the region. A recent flight from Prague to Hurghada, Egypt, had to make an emergency landing in Athens due to a Czech passenger's disruptive behavior.
The intoxicated passenger vomited on fellow passengers, collapsed, and later attacked a doctor onboard, prompting the emergency diversion. The flight continued only after the passenger was removed in Athens.
Should airports limit passengers to two alcoholic drinks before takeoff?
This incident is part of a wider trend of increasing passenger misconduct in aviation. Drunken behavior has been linked to numerous incidents, from unruly passengers to emergency landings, raising concerns over safety standards at airports in the Czech Republic.
