Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary calls for airport ban on early morning pints

Summary: Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has called for airports to stop serving alcohol before early morning flights, arguing it would help cut disruptive behaviour in the air. The comments come as the airline says diversions caused by unruly passengers have risen sharply in recent years.

In the latest Ireland breaking news, Michael O’Leary said airports should face tighter rules on alcohol sales, especially during the early hours. He said airlines are increasingly dealing with drunk and disruptive passengers, with Ryanair now diverting nearly one flight a day on average because of bad behaviour onboard.

O’Leary wants tighter airport alcohol rules

Speaking about the issue, O’Leary said he does not understand why passengers are being served alcohol at 5am or 6am before boarding flights. He argued that limiting airport bar sales outside normal licensing hours would reduce trouble in the cabin and improve safety for passengers and crew.

He also backed a two-drink limit at airports, saying Ryanair already applies a cautious approach when serving alcohol onboard. His criticism was aimed at airport bars that continue selling drinks freely during delays and early departures.

Disruptive passenger incidents are rising

According to O’Leary, the scale of the issue has grown significantly. He said Ryanair used to divert around one flight a week because of passenger misconduct a decade ago. That figure has now increased to almost one diversion every day.

This is a notable development in latest news Ireland, as flight diversions create major costs for airlines and passengers alike. A diversion can lead to:

• Long delays for everyone onboard
• Extra fuel and operational costs
• Disruption to airport schedules
• Potential legal action against passengers

What Irish passengers should know

Under Irish law, being intoxicated on an aircraft is a criminal offence. Penalties can include up to two years in prison and fines of more than €2,500. Passengers may also be pursued for the cost of diverting a flight, which can run from €10,000 to €80,000 depending on the route and disruption involved.

Ryanair has already shown it is willing to act. Last year, the airline began legal proceedings in Ireland against a passenger over losses linked to a diverted Dublin to Lanzarote flight.

Why this story matters

This Ireland news story highlights growing pressure on airports and airlines to deal with alcohol-related disruption before it reaches the aircraft cabin. For travellers, it is also a reminder that behaviour in airports can have serious legal and financial consequences once a flight is affected.

As Ireland news continues to track transport and aviation developments, O’Leary’s comments are likely to add to the wider debate over airport licensing, passenger safety and enforcement. In short, this Ireland breaking news story points to a tougher approach on pre-flight drinking as airlines seek to reduce disruption and protect services.