Ryanair Implements New Fines for Disruptive Passengers
The airline sets a £500 penalty for unruly passengers as part of broader measures to ensure flight safety.
Ryanair, the low-cost airline, has announced a £500 penalty—equivalent to over 230,000 forints—for passengers removed from flights due to disruptive behavior.
This fine, described as the 'minimum' sanction, positions the airline to seek civil legal action against those removed and to claim damages.
The move aims to deter what Ryanair refers to as 'unacceptable behavior' by passengers.
The airline specifically highlights that disruptive actions by aggressive or intoxicated passengers pose threats to the safety of both the aircraft and other passengers.
A spokesperson for Ryanair emphasized the need for maintaining a peaceful flight environment: 'It is unacceptable that other passengers are unnecessarily disturbed because of one unruly individual's behavior.' Despite these incidents being isolated, the airline noted that they generally occur due to a small number of undisciplined passengers among the more than 200 million travelers expected in the 2024-2025 period.
Currently, disruptive passengers face significant penalties, including monetary fines, potential criminal prosecution, or imprisonment.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK stated that disruptive individuals could be held liable for costs associated with diverting an aircraft, which could exceed £10,000.
Intoxicated passengers may face fines up to £5,000 and potential imprisonment for up to two years; severe cases may lead to prison terms of up to five years.
Ryanair's Chief Executive Officer, Michael O’Leary, has previously advocated for limiting alcohol consumption to two drinks per passenger at airports, asserting that such measures would mitigate instances of disruption.
Earlier this year, the airline initiated legal proceedings against a passenger who disrupted a flight to the Canary Islands in 2024.
Ryanair is pursuing €15,000 (approximately 6 million forints) in damages to cover costs incurred from diverting a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to Portugal.
This compensation seeks to address expenses related to overnight accommodations and other costs faced by the 160 passengers affected, who experienced unnecessary disruption and lost an entire day of their holiday due to the diversion.
This fine, described as the 'minimum' sanction, positions the airline to seek civil legal action against those removed and to claim damages.
The move aims to deter what Ryanair refers to as 'unacceptable behavior' by passengers.
The airline specifically highlights that disruptive actions by aggressive or intoxicated passengers pose threats to the safety of both the aircraft and other passengers.
A spokesperson for Ryanair emphasized the need for maintaining a peaceful flight environment: 'It is unacceptable that other passengers are unnecessarily disturbed because of one unruly individual's behavior.' Despite these incidents being isolated, the airline noted that they generally occur due to a small number of undisciplined passengers among the more than 200 million travelers expected in the 2024-2025 period.
Currently, disruptive passengers face significant penalties, including monetary fines, potential criminal prosecution, or imprisonment.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK stated that disruptive individuals could be held liable for costs associated with diverting an aircraft, which could exceed £10,000.
Intoxicated passengers may face fines up to £5,000 and potential imprisonment for up to two years; severe cases may lead to prison terms of up to five years.
Ryanair's Chief Executive Officer, Michael O’Leary, has previously advocated for limiting alcohol consumption to two drinks per passenger at airports, asserting that such measures would mitigate instances of disruption.
Earlier this year, the airline initiated legal proceedings against a passenger who disrupted a flight to the Canary Islands in 2024.
Ryanair is pursuing €15,000 (approximately 6 million forints) in damages to cover costs incurred from diverting a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to Portugal.
This compensation seeks to address expenses related to overnight accommodations and other costs faced by the 160 passengers affected, who experienced unnecessary disruption and lost an entire day of their holiday due to the diversion.
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