Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Ryanair , Europe ’s largest airline, has reported a significant increase in unruly passenger behavior, with flight safety issues, largely driven by drug and alcohol use. This trend has become the primary issue that cabin crew members are forced to contend with, according to Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary. Escalating Problem on European Flights Michael O’Leary has highlighted that there is a growing prevalence of passengers under the influence of “powder” or “tablets” combined with alcohol, leading to increasingly aggressive and disruptive behavior on flights.
The problem has escalated to the point where Ryanair faces cases of passenger assaults on a weekly basis, underscoring the severity of the issue. The issue is not isolated to Ryanair but is being experienced across multiple airlines throughout Europe. Flights from popular beach destinations such as Ibiza and the Greek islands to regional airports in the UK, including Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester, and Edinburgh, are particularly problematic.
These routes have seen a “notable rise” in bad behavior, with measures like bag searches being implemented to prevent alcohol from being brought on board. O’Leary also noted that the issue extends beyond these specific routes, with similar problems being reported on flights to and from Ireland and Germany. The trend of passengers fighting each other mid-flight has also been observed as a growing concern.
Ryanair’s Response.