Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has urged Irish and UK regulators to prohibit the sale of alcohol in airport bars before normal pub licensing hours—typically 10 a.m.—to stem a surge in unruly passenger incidents. Speaking on 6 May, O’Leary revealed that Ryanair now diverts “almost one flight every day” due to disruptive behaviour, compared with once a week ten years ago. The majority of cases, he claimed, involve passengers who began drinking before dawn while waiting for early departures from Dublin, Cork or London Stansted. Under current rules, airside outlets in Ireland are exempt from national licensing hours. O’Leary wants the exemption scrapped and a two-drink limit imposed until passengers board. Industry body Airports Council International Europe argues that enforcement should target individuals, not blanket restrictions, but has agreed to open talks with carriers and duty-free groups. For corporate mobility teams the proposal highlights reputational and safety risks tied to client or employee conduct in transit. Some multinational firms already include a “no-pre-flight drinking” clause in travel policies, particularly for early intra-EU hops that connect to long-haul services.
![Ryanair CEO seeks ban on early-morning alcohol sales at airports to curb in-flight disruption]()
To reduce other sources of travel friction, global mobility managers can tap services such as VisaHQ, which provides fast online processing for visas, passports and digital travel authorisations. Its Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) consolidates the latest entry rules for more than 200 destinations, helping companies keep travellers compliant while they focus on maintaining professional behaviour in transit.
If new limits are introduced, assignees may face tighter boarding-gate screening and longer dwell times as bar seating is repurposed. The Irish Aviation Authority recorded 197 unruly-passenger reports in 2025, up 23 % year-on-year; almost half involved alcohol. A decision on licensing reform is expected when the Civil Aviation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill returns to the Oireachtas in the autumn.
To reduce other sources of travel friction, global mobility managers can tap services such as VisaHQ, which provides fast online processing for visas, passports and digital travel authorisations. Its Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) consolidates the latest entry rules for more than 200 destinations, helping companies keep travellers compliant while they focus on maintaining professional behaviour in transit.
If new limits are introduced, assignees may face tighter boarding-gate screening and longer dwell times as bar seating is repurposed. The Irish Aviation Authority recorded 197 unruly-passenger reports in 2025, up 23 % year-on-year; almost half involved alcohol. A decision on licensing reform is expected when the Civil Aviation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill returns to the Oireachtas in the autumn.
