Airlines reserve the right to deny boarding to anyone deemed excessively intoxicatedbut on the other hand, they often serve drinks on the plane themselves, so travelers do not take these restrictions too seriously. Moreover, some of them later behave in such an inappropriate manner on board that the crew is forced to change course and land at airports other than the intended ones, which generates huge financial costs and image problems.
And it looks like that carriers intend to seriously address this issue – let us just remind you that Ryanair recently sued an unnamed passenger in an attempt to recover losses incurred due to the need to divert a Dublin-Lanzarote flight as a result of the unacceptable behavior of one of the passengers.
Ryanair wants to limit access to alcohol
In a case brought before Irish courts, the airlines are demanding a total of PLN 15,000. EUR compensationincluding 7 thousand for hotel costs for 160 passengers and crew, PLN 2.5 thousand for landing and handling fees at the Portuguese airport and PLN 1.8 thousand for crew replacement due to flight hour restrictions. Ryanair also demands that the passenger cover EUR 800 for excessive fuel costs, EUR 750 for lost income from on-board sales and EUR 2,500. euros for Portuguese legal fees.
As The Guardian reports, now airlines have decided to go one step further and demand that airports require boarding passes to be shown when purchasing alcohol in bars and pubs on their premisesas in duty-free shops, while limiting passengers’ access to drinks. Ryanair suggests that they consume excessive amounts of alcohol during flight delays, which leads to later problems:
We do not understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in the same way that sales in duty-free shops are limited), which would ensure safer and better passenger behavior on board aircraft and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews throughout Europe
An appeal to the European authorities
Airlines argue that flight crews already have the right to refuse to serve alcohol to passengers, but it is not the on-board drinks that are the problem. They include passengers who get drunk at airports, appear calm when checking in and boarding, and then become “unruly during the flight.” In connection with Ryanair demands the introduction of legal limits at airports across Europewhere it operates 3,600 flights daily in 37 countries.
It is time for EU authorities to take action to restrict the sale of alcohol at airports
Does Ryanair’s “mission” have a chance of success? It doesn’t seem because most airports in Europe sell alcohol and make profits from it, which they certainly will not want to give up. Especially since the airline does not make a gesture and leaves limiting alcohol consumption on board in the hands of its own crew, not legal regulations. It should also not be forgotten that a decision of this type will certainly meet with opposition from travelers, because it is about “limiting freedom”.
Source: geekweek.interia.pl
