Ryanair Introduces $500 Fine for Disruptive Passengers to Ensure Peaceful Flights

Ryanair is committed to "combating disruptive passenger behavior in the interest of its passengers and crew," the company states in a press release. In addition to pursuing disruptive passengers for damages, the company has decided to impose a minimum fine of €500. "It is unacceptable for passengers to experience unnecessary disruptions due to the behavior of a single unruly passenger. To ensure that our passengers and crew travel in a comfortable and peaceful environment, without unnecessary disturbances caused by a small number of disruptive passengers, we have introduced a €500 fine, which will be imposed on any passenger removed from the aircraft due to their reprehensible behavior," commented a Ryanair spokesperson. Considering these incidents as "isolated events that occur on all airlines," the Irish low-cost carrier hopes that the decision to impose a fine "will eliminate these unacceptable behaviors" on board its aircraft.

Disruptive passengers already face heavy fines and criminal prosecution, or even prison sentences. Disruptive passengers could be charged for the cost of diverting an aircraft, which could easily exceed £10,000 (11,800 euros), according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the aviation watchdog. Anyone charged with being drunk on an aircraft faces a maximum fine of £5,000 (5,800 euros) and up to two years in prison, according to Air Journal. Those accused of endangering an aircraft, a more serious offense, risk up to five years in prison.