An unusually high number of violent incidents have been reported on planes around the world this summer.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary believes a mixture of alcohol, “powders and pills” are to blame, and now wants airport bars to impose a limit of two beers or drinks per person.
In an interview with Britain’s The Telegraph, the eccentric CEO describes the widespread problem of drunk and disorderly air travelers. According to O’Leary, many people drink far too much in airport bars – while there are increasing reports of them abusing medication or drugs.
It’s the mix. You get much more aggressive behaviour that becomes very difficult to manage. And it’s not directed just at the crew. Passengers fighting with each other is now a growing trend on board the aircraft
– It’s the mix. You get much more aggressive behaviour that becomes very difficult to manage, he says, explaining that in the past, people who were drunk when boarding the plane used to fall asleep quickly.
Airline staff are particularly affected by inebriated travelers, but fights and brawls between passengers have also become more common, O’Leary says.
One solution could be to impose limits at airports on how many drinks or beers travelers can have before boarding, and the airline CEO believes two beers is a reasonable limit.
– It’s not that easy for airlines to identify people who are inebriated at the gate, particularly if they are boarding with two or three others. As long as they can stand up and shuffle they will get through. Then when the plane takes off we see the misbehaviour, he continues.
Brits are worst
The worst cases are said to be when planes are severely delayed, with travelers tending to sit in bars for many hours and consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
– Most of our passengers show up an hour before departure. That’s sufficient for two drinks. But if your flight is delayed by two or three hours you can’t be guzzling five, six, eight, ten pints of beer. Go and have a coffee or a cup of tea, he urges.
He also singles out the British as the worst drinkers, especially those who go on party trips to Ibiza and the like. Airports have not taken up his suggestion and oppose this type of regulation – according to O’Leary, because they want to keep making as much money as possible.
