Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has called for a strict two-drink airport booze limit to curb disruptive behaviour and stop ‘idiots’ ruining flights for others
Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary has demanded a massive crackdown on airport booze benders, insisting holidaymakers should be capped at just two pre-flight tipples. Under the budget airline chief’s plans, thirsty jet-setters would have to show their boarding passes at airport bars to stop them getting served a third drink, no matter what time of day it is.
Speaking to Sky News host Sophy Ridge on Monday, the straight-talking aviation boss was grilled on how many pints passengers should actually be allowed before boarding.
He said: “I think it should be limited to two. We’re not trying to block everybody from drinking but you should show your boarding pass and that should limit you to two alcoholic drinks at whatever time of the day it is. And after two, have a cup of tea, have a cup of coffee.”
Mr O’Leary said that airport drinking is contributing to a growing problem of disruptive behaviour on flights particularly when passengers are left waiting for hours because of delays, reports the Express.
He said: “We should limit people to two alcoholic drinks at an airport, that’s enough. When you have flight delays as we had during the summer, people are drinking too much at the airports. The airports don’t care, they’re happy to sell you the drink because they know then they’ll pass the problem on to the airlines.
“We have real problems, all of the airlines are facing real challenges with a dramatic growth in misbehaviour in passengers on board aircraft – a combination of alcohol and drugs I’m sorry to say – and they expect the airlines to police it.” He added: “It’s too late once they’re up in the air.”
Mr O’Leary also said the airline has been forced to divert on average about one or two aircraft a week this year, which comes to about 100 diversions.
He said: “Think of the number of passengers whose holidays and travel plans have been disrupted because some idiot can’t control themselves or won’t behave properly.”
Mr O’Leary dismissed suggestions that airlines should simply identify intoxicated passengers at the boarding gate, arguing that it is not always easy to recognise someone who had been drinking unless they’re visibly staggering over.
He also criticised the response from authorities and urged them to do more.
The Ryanair CEO said: “It is not acceptable that we tolerate this misbehaviour and the authorities will not take any action.
“I divert an aircraft to an airport and the local police just want him or her back on the aircraft and send them back to the UK again.
“We need to be much more serious about this safety and we need to tackle this – limit the drinks at airports. It’s a sensible thing to do. My view is two will do.”
Being drunk on a plane is a criminal offence and can be punished by a fine of up to £5,000 and two years’ imprisonment.