Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has called for airports to stop serving alcohol before early morning flights, arguing that excessive drinking is driving a sharp increase in disruptive passenger incidents onboard aircraft.

The airline boss said the aviation industry is facing growing problems linked to intoxicated passengers, with Ryanair now diverting almost one flight every day because of poor behaviour.

Ryanair Reports Sharp Rise In Disruptive Incidents

Speaking to The Times, O’Leary said the number of alcohol-related incidents on flights has increased significantly over the past decade.

According to the Ryanair CEO, the airline previously diverted around one flight per week because of disruptive passengers, compared with nearly one per day today.

“It’s becoming a real challenge for all airlines,” O’Leary said.

“I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o’clock in the morning. Who needs to be drinking beer at that time?”

Calls For Alcohol Restrictions At Airports

O’Leary argued that airport bars should face stricter alcohol licensing rules similar to those applied to pubs and bars outside airports.

Currently, many airport venues in the United Kingdom are exempt from standard licensing hour restrictions.

“There should be no alcohol served at airports outside licensing hours,” he said.

The Ryanair boss also proposed introducing a two-drink limit for passengers at airport bars, similar to restrictions the airline already applies onboard many flights.

He accused airports of contributing to the problem by continuing to serve alcohol during delays and busy travel periods.

“The ones who are profiteering off it are the airports who have these bars open at five or six o’clock in the morning,” O’Leary said.

Airlines Increasingly Target Disruptive Passengers

Disruptive passenger behaviour has become a growing issue across the aviation industry in recent years.

Being intoxicated on an aircraft is a criminal offence in the United Kingdom and can carry penalties including fines of up to £5,000 and prison sentences of up to two years.

Ryanair has recently taken a more aggressive legal approach toward passengers involved in serious onboard incidents.

In January 2025, the airline announced legal action against a passenger in Ireland, seeking €15,000 in damages linked to the diversion of a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote.

Industry Pushes For Wider Passenger Controls

Other airlines are also calling for stronger measures to deal with disruptive travellers.

Last week, Jet2 proposed creating a national database that would allow airlines to share information and collectively ban passengers involved in serious incidents.

The debate around airport alcohol sales and passenger behaviour is expected to intensify as airlines face increasing operational disruption linked to onboard incidents.