The airline announces a new £500 mandatory fine for passengers removed from flights due to disruptive behavior.
People queuing while boarding a Ryanair aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock)
Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair will introduce a mandatory £500 fine for any passenger removed from a flight due to unruly or aggressive behavior, the airline announced Thursday. The policy, set to take effect immediately, is part of a broader crackdown aimed at curbing growing instances of in-flight misconduct, particularly during the busy summer travel season.
In a statement, the airline said the fine will apply to passengers whose behavior results in removal from the aircraft prior to departure or who cause a diversion mid-flight. Offenses include verbal or physical abuse, intoxication, refusal to comply with cabin crew instructions, and any activity that threatens flight safety or causes operational delays.
“It is unacceptable that passengers are made to suffer unnecessary disruption because of one unruly passenger’s behavior,” a Ryanair spokesperson said. “We are now enforcing a minimum £500 fine for any such disruption, and we reserve the right to pursue additional civil damages, especially when flight diversions are required.”
The announcement follows several high-profile incidents in recent years involving disruptive passengers on European carriers. A 2024 Ryanair flight from Dublin to Lanzarote had to divert to Porto, Portugal, after a male passenger became violently intoxicated, requiring police intervention. Ryanair subsequently sued the individual for €15,000 to cover the costs of the diversion, including fuel, crew overtime, and passenger compensation.
According to the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), disruptive passengers may also be asked to reimburse the airline for the cost of the diversion. Diversion costs typically range from £10,000 to £80,000, depending on the size of the aircraft and where it diverts to. Airlines are under no obligation to reimburse or re-accommodate disruptive passengers, who may also face criminal prosecution, including fines of up to £5,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or up to five years if their actions endanger the safety of the flight.
A Ryanair Boeing 737-800 landing. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Reported unruly passenger incidents have been on the rise in recent years. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based on 24,500 incident reports from over 50 operators worldwide, there was one unruly passenger incident for every 480 flights in 2023, an increase from one incident for every 568 flights in 2022.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has repeatedly called for tighter airport alcohol regulations, including limiting pre-flight alcohol service and introducing a two-drink limit per passenger at airport bars. O’Leary has argued that the combination of early-morning flights and unrestricted alcohol consumption at departure terminals contributes significantly to in-flight disturbances.
“We don’t serve duty-free alcohol on board and we don’t sell spirits, but some of our flights become floating pubs because of what happens at the gate,” O’Leary said in a previous interview. “It’s time for airports and governments to step up.”
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