The leader of Ryanair advocates for limiting alcohol consumption among travelers.
In his fight against disruptive behavior and incidents onboard aircraft, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary suggests limiting pre-flight alcohol sales at airports. Passengers should be allowed to purchase only two drinks per boarding pass, according to O'Leary, who discussed this with the British newspaper "Telegraph." This summer has seen an uptick in violent incidents, with almost weekly attacks reported.
Identifying intoxicated passengers at the gate can be challenging, especially when they're traveling in groups, noted O'Leary. As long as they can walk and move, they're allowed to board. However, trouble often arises once the plane takes off.
O'Leary isn't advocating for a ban on drinks but rather comparing it to not letting people drive under the influence of alcohol, while still allowing them to board planes sailing at 33,000 feet.
Alcohol-related altercations on party-destination flights
Alcohol-fueled incidents are common on flights from the UK to popular party destinations like Ibiza and certain Greek islands. For instance, in July, a British tourist was given a suspended sentence for sexually assaulting a flight attendant on a Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Mallorca.
The rise in such incidents, according to O'Leary, is a result of alcohol combined with "tablets and powders," which is likely a reference to other drugs such as cocaine. However, issues also occur on flights departing from Ireland or Germany. The most challenging days for flight crew are those with numerous delays, where passengers may resort to drinking alcohol while waiting at airports. It's advisable, O'Leary suggests, to spend wait times with coffee or tea instead. His proposal would not negatively impact airport bars' profits.
Airline companies should consider implementing stricter alcohol policies at airports to prevent disruptive behavior, as suggested by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary. O'Leary's proposal, which includes limiting pre-flight alcohol sales, aims to curb alcohol-related incidents onboard aircraft.
