Ryanair Boss Blames Alcohol for Surge in Passenger Violence
Ryanair has reported a concerning increase in passenger violence on its flights, with CEO Michael O'Leary attributing the issue primarily to excessive alcohol consumption, as well as drug use.
The airline's concerns follow a recent case involving a British holidaymaker who was convicted of sexually assaulting a flight attendant on a Ryanair flight from Newcastle to Majorca in 2023. The man, who had pretended to have credit card issues, "touched the steward's bottom in a lewd way."
This incident is just one in a string of disruptive passenger behaviour reported by Ryanair. Last August, a man was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a flight attendant and spitting on her manager on a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Ibiza. In another incident, four men were removed from an easyJet plane travelling from Manchester to Tenerife, which was forced to divert to Lanzarote due to violent clashes between the passengers.
Sinead Quinn, who oversees training for Ryanair's 14,000 cabin crew, described the UK as "most challenging," particularly in regional areas. She noted that while groups of young people are often associated with disruptive behaviour, the issue extends to families and individuals who might not be expected to cause trouble.
O'Leary highlighted the link between flight delays and increased incidents of passenger violence. He explained that when flights are delayed, passengers have more time to consume alcohol before boarding, exacerbating the issue. This problem, he said, is particularly evident on flights originating from Ireland and Germany.
"The biggest problem we have is when you have a day of bad delays," O'Leary stated. "People are waiting around at airports and they keep lorrying alcohol into them. Most of our passengers show up an hour before departure. That's sufficient for two drinks. But if your flight is delayed by two or three hours, you can't be guzzling five, six, eight, ten pints of beer. Go and have a coffee or a cup of tea. It's not an alcoholic's outing."
Despite the severity of the issue, O'Leary emphasised that the airline's proposed solutions would not impact their profits. "What we're asking for won't affect profit. The bars can still sell their drinks and food. And yet government agencies in the UK and across Europe don't take it seriously," he added.
Ryanair's concerns highlight a growing problem in the aviation industry, with airlines facing increased challenges in managing disruptive passenger behaviour. The company's call for stricter regulations and increased awareness regarding alcohol consumption before and during flights underscores the need for a collaborative approach between airlines and authorities to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers and crew.
