AIRLINES are calling for tighter controls on alcohol sales at airports after a rise in disruptive, booze-related incidents on flights.
Ryanair, backed by other airlines, says passengers should be limited to just two alcoholic drinks before boarding, warning that the problem has escalated sharply in recent years.
The airline says it is being forced to divert almost one flight a day due to incidents involving intoxicated passengers, compared to around one per week just a decade ago.
Ryanair, along with several other airlines, has already limited the sale of alcohol on their aircrafts, particularly towards disruptive passengers.
They argue, however, that airport alcohol consumption remains largely unrestricted during delays.
Accordingly, Ryanair has repeated its call for tougher controls on alcohol at airports.
In an interview with The Times, outspoke Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary questioned why airport bars are serving alcohol as early as five or six in the morning, calling for a ban on serving alcohol outside normal licensing hours.
On top of that, he calls for a system that tracks and limits alcohol purchases through boarding passes, stating that this would result in a safer travel experience and better passenger behaviour.
The call follows a costly incident last year involving a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote.
The aircraft was forced to divert to Porto after a passenger became disruptive. Police removed and arrested the individual on arrival.
Due to crew hours restrictions, more than 160 passengers and six crew members were forced to stay overnight in Porto, with accommodation and meals funded entirely by the airline before the journey recommenced the next day.
However, there are signs that British travel habits may be changing.
Younger travellers, in particular, are said to be moving away from pre-flight drinking, as well as opting for different travel patterns outside peak summer months.
Even so, the travel industry as a whole keeps campaigning to limit airport drinking to reduce incidents on flights.
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