Drunk plane passengers: Ryanair blames airports, French law fines heavily
Prison sentences can also be handed out to disruptive travellers
The number of disruptive passengers is on the rise
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock
The head of low-cost airline Ryanair made headlines earlier this week, after he called for a two-drink limit for all passengers at airports.
Michael O’Leary highlighted the increasing occurrence of “aggressive behaviour” directed at cabin crew, and noted how travellers frequently mix drugs and alcohol before flying, leading to more incidents.
“We don't want to begrudge people having a drink… But we don't allow people to drink-drive, yet we keep putting them up in aircraft at 33,000ft,” he said to The Daily Telegraph.
It can be difficult for cabin crew to spot drunk passengers when boarding a plane, but once a flight leaves, disruptions can be severe, and even lead to planes having to land mid-flight to deal with disruptive travellers.
Whilst Mr O’Leary’s comments were largely directed at UK and Ireland airports and flights towards ‘party destinations’ – Ibiza, the south of Spain, and some Greek islands, for example – disruption can in theory happen on any flight.
The number of flights disrupted by a passenger rose from 568 to 835 between 2021 and 2022, according to the most recent figures from the International Air Transport Association.
Although the number of incidents of passengers attacking aircraft staff remains low (1 in 17,200 flights) it increased by 61% in 2022.
What are the rules in France?
In France, laws exist to punish disruptive passengers for their behaviour on flights.
People who disrupt safety announcements, use electronic devices when not supposed to, or are otherwise disruptive and prevent flights from leaving, are liable to a €10,000 fine and a ban from boarding a French-operated aircraft for up to two years.
Repeat offences can see these punishments doubled.
If found guilty of damaging an aircraft, prison sentences increase to five years, and fines of up to €75,000.
French aircrew staff are permitted to confiscate alcohol from passengers if they believe it will lead to disruption on the plane.
Read more: Bordeaux airport: ‘Ryanair pulling out was our worst-case scenario’
