Flight Diversion Costs: Ryanair Takes Legal Action Against Disruptive Passenger
Ryanair has initiated legal proceedings against a disruptive passenger whose behavior forced a flight diversion from Dublin to Lanzarote, incurring €15,000 in costs. The airline also called for tighter regulations on alcohol sales at airports to reduce such incidents in the future.
Ryanair filed a civil lawsuit against a passenger accused of disruptive behavior that forced a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to divert to Porto on April 9, 2024. The airline seeks to recover costs associated with the incident, totaling €15,000.
The flight had to land in Porto due to the passenger’s behavior, who was disembarked and arrested. The airline explained that, due to crew duty time restrictions, both the 160 passengers and the six crew members were forced to spend the night at the airport. Additionally, Ryanair had to deploy another aircraft and a new crew to complete the flight to Lanzarote the following day.
According to Ryanair, the costs of the incident include accommodation, meals, and the additional operation required to complete the journey, all of which were covered by the company.
The budget airline provided a detailed breakdown of the claim, outlining each expense:
- Excess fuel usage for diverting the flight: €800.
- Accommodation for passengers and crew: €7,000.
- Landing and handling fees at Porto airport: €2,500.
- Loss of onboard sales: €750.
- Legal costs in Portugal: €2,500.
Claim in Irish Courts
Ryanair stated that the case was transferred from Portuguese to Irish authorities because both the aircraft and the passenger are Irish. "We are pursuing civil proceedings against this passenger in Irish courts to recover these costs, which were incurred entirely due to the passenger’s disruptive behavior," said a Ryanair spokesperson.
Criticism of Alcohol Sales in Airports
In its statement, Ryanair criticized the lack of action by European authorities to address disruptive behavior on flights, particularly related to alcohol consumption in airports. "It's time for EU authorities to take steps to limit the sale of alcohol in airports," the airline emphasized.
The spokesperson proposed a limit of two alcoholic beverages per passenger, controlled through the boarding pass system, similar to the one used for duty-free purchases. According to the company, this measure could reduce incidents onboard and enhance flight safety across Europe.
AUTOR
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline.
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