Michael O'Leary, the outspoken chief executive of Ryanair, has reignited debate over alcohol consumption at airports by calling for a ban on early-morning drinks. He argues that serving alcohol before flights contributes to a surge in disruptive passenger behaviour, forcing airlines to divert flights at an alarming rate.
Rising Disruptions Prompt Call for Action
O'Leary revealed that Ryanair now diverts nearly one flight per day on average due to passenger misconduct, a sharp increase from just one per week a decade ago. In an interview with the Times, he stated, "It's becoming a real challenge for all airlines. I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o'clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?"
Current Licensing Loopholes
Unlike other venues, airport bars in the UK are exempt from standard licensing hours, allowing them to serve alcohol at any time. O'Leary proposed that no alcohol should be sold at airports outside normal licensing hours. He also suggested a two-drink limit for passengers, though he did not specify whether Ryanair would restrict onboard alcohol service.
O'Leary criticised airports for profiting from early-morning bar sales, saying, "The ones who are not responsible, the ones who are profiteering off it, are the airports who have these bars open at five or six o'clock in the morning and during delays are quite happy to send these people as much alcohol as they want because they know they're going to export the problem to the airlines."
Legal and Industry Context
Being drunk on a plane is a criminal offence in the UK, punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years' imprisonment. Ryanair has already taken legal action against disruptive passengers, including a case in Ireland seeking €15,000 (£12,500) in damages for a diverted flight from Dublin to Lanzarote.
Jet2, another budget airline, recently called for a national database to enable airlines to share information and collectively ban disruptive passengers. O'Leary's comments add to growing industry pressure to address alcohol-related incidents at airports.
