Ryanair to hand 'disruptive' passengers fines of £500

Kevin Sharkey
BBC News NI Dublin reporter
Shuttershock A Ryanair Boeing 737 plane with logo saying its name is seen moving on the Tarmac at an unknown airportShuttershock

Ryanair has announced passengers who have to be taken off their aircrafts because of disruptive behaviour are to be fined £500.

The Irish airline said said it hopes the fine will "act as a deterrent" to eliminate unacceptable behaviour onboard planes.

"It is unacceptable that passengers are made suffer unnecessary disruption because of one unruly passenger's behaviour," the airline said in a statement.

Ryanair has previously pursued legal action against disruptive passengers.

The statement added: "To help ensure that our passengers and crew travel in a comfortable and stress-free environment, without unnecessary disruption caused by a tiny number of unruly passengers, we have introduced a £500 fine, which will be issued to any passengers offloaded from aircraft as a result of their misconduct."

Last year. the airline's boss Michael O'Leary said introducing alcohol limits at airports would help tackle a rise in disorder on flights.

On Thursday, Ryanair said alongside the introduction of the £500, it will continue to pursue disruptive passengers for civil damages.