Airline, fed up with bad behaviour, sues passenger for $25,000

RYANAIR BOEING 737-8AS 9H-QAJ (MSN 44817)

The biggest airline in Europe is cracking down on unruly passengers, fed up with travelers disrupting flights. Ryanair revealed on Wednesday it had decided to sue a passenger for about $25,000 after a flight from Dublin (DUB/EIDW) to the Spanish island Lanzarote (ACE/GCRR) was forced to divert to Porto in Portugal (OPO/LPPR) and be delayed overnight.

There were 160 passengers on board the disrupted flight back in April last year.

Ryanair said it had now filed legal proceedings in the Irish Circuit Court claiming the passenger’s disruptive behaviour caused over “€15,000 in overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs”. It wants to recover these costs from this passenger.

The action also came with a warning to others who plan to fly with the ultra low-cost carrier based in Ireland – describing this move as part of a “major misconduct clampdown”.

“This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair’s zero tolerance policy, and we hope this action will deter further disruptive behaviour on flights so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment,” a Ryanair spokesperson said.

The statement added: “It is unacceptable that passengers – many of whom are heading away with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing Summer holiday – are suffering unnecessary disruptions and reduced holiday time as a result of one unruly passenger’s behaviour.”

In the EU, passengers are entitled to compensation for flights that are cancelled or delayed by three hours or more. This includes free hotel accommodation if necessary. In August, outspoken Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary demanded airports limit passengers to two alcoholic drinks per boarding pass.

Mr. O’Leary claimed drunken passengers were not just falling over or asleep like they once were but because “tablets and powder” were in the mix, leading to “much more aggressive behavior” directed both at crew and other passengers.

He said attacks were happening weekly.

“Passengers fighting with each other is now a growing trend on board the aircraft,” he said.