Ryanair has detailed costs totaling over €15,000 that it aims to recover from a passenger whose alleged disruptive behavior forced a Dublin to Lanzarote flight to divert to Porto on April 9, 2024.
The airline has provided a breakdown of the expenses:
- €7,000 for overnight accommodation of 160+ passengers and crew
- €2,500 for landing and handling fees in Porto
- €2,500 for legal fees in Portugal
- €1,800 for replacement crew costs
- €800 for excess fuel
- €750 for lost inflight sales
The incident on Flight FR7124 resulted in an overnight stay in Porto due to crew hours restrictions, requiring an additional aircraft and crew to complete the journey the following day.
According to The Irish Examiner, the case highlights broader concerns about airport alcohol sales, with Ryanair calling for EU authorities to implement stricter regulations. The airline suggests limiting passengers to two alcoholic drinks using their boarding passes, similar to duty-free purchase restrictions.
Following the Portuguese prosecution’s decision to transfer the case due to both aircraft and passenger being Irish, Ryanair is pursuing civil proceedings in Irish courts. The airline criticized European governments’ “inaction” on disruptive passenger incidents that threaten aircraft safety.
“None of these costs would have been incurred if this disruptive passenger had not forced a diversion to Porto in order to protect the safety of the aircraft, 160 passengers and six crew members on board,” a Ryanair spokesperson told the Irish Examiner.