(Jan 14): Ryanair Holdings plc pressed European authorities to limit the sale of alcohol at airports, renewing its call for a crackdown after a spate of costly passenger disruptions.

The Irish low-cost carrier said it backs a two-drink maximum at airports, citing an April 2024 incident that ended up costing Ryanair more than €15,000 (RM69,039).

“We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks,” Ryanair said in a statement. “This would result in safer and better passenger behavior on board aircraft.”

In-flight disturbances spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic and remain elevated, prompting airlines and flight attendants in Europe and the US to call for limits on alcohol consumption on the ground. Their campaigns have met resistance from airports, along with pubs that make money from the sales.

Many food and drink venues already restrict alcohol servings and the vast majority of travelers drink responsibly before flight, said Kate Nicholls, chief executive officer of the UKHospitality trade group. 

“Pubs are not the only places in airports that serve alcohol and all venues, including lounges and duty-free, have a duty to act responsibly,” she said by email.

Ryanair chief executive officer Michael O’Leary said in August that rowdy passengers are the biggest challenge for cabin crews, especially to party destinations like the Spanish island of Ibiza. The airline limits the sale of alcohol on its flights, particularly when there are disturbances, it said Monday.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said last year there were 915 cases of unruly passengers within the first six months of 2024, including 106 cases involving intoxication. Meanwhile, data from the International Air Transport Association shows there was one unruly passenger incident for every 480 flights globally in 2023, versus one incident for every 568 flights in 2022.

Ryanair suggested enforcing the two-drink minimum with boarding-pass stamps similar to the way duty-free sales are restricted. 

The April 2024 incident involved a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote, another Spanish island, that had to be diverted to Porto in Portugal. Almost half the extra expense came from the cost of overnight accommodation for passengers and crew, the airline said. 

The passenger was arrested and faces a civil proceeding from Ryanair, after a Portuguese court referred the case to Ireland, Ryanair said.

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