Ryanair Boss Calls for Two-Drink Limit at Airport Bars Citing Daily Flight Diversions

Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, called for airports to ban pre-flight early-morning pints and impose a two-drink limit per person. He told The Times: "I fail to understand why anybody in airport bars is serving people at five or six o'clock in the morning. " O'Leary said his airline has on average one flight diversion a day.

The comments mark the latest round in a long-running dispute. In 2024, O'Leary proposed a two-drink limit on flights themselves, stating: "We don’t want to begrudge people having a drink. " Sir Tim Martin, founder of JD Wetherspoon, blasted "Big Brother" policing of alcohol in airports.

He said limiting alcohol in airports could lead to passengers being breathalysed. Martin said it had "never been suggested" that his customers had caused issues on flights. He added that any limit on drinking would be difficult to manage.

"It is in everyone’s interests to have good behaviour at airports and on flights," Martin said. " Wetherspoons warned that limiting alcohol in airports would lead to "off-trade sales" with passengers buying booze from off-licences or supermarkets before arrival.

The company analysed its airport pub sales in the past six months and found two thirds of sales came from food, soft drinks, tea and coffee.

Tea and coffee accounted for a fifth of all drinks sales and soft drinks a quarter. Wetherspoons said a "significant proportion" of alcoholic drinks ordered came with a meal. In 2024, Martin said: "We’ve had no complaints about our pubs from the airport authorities or airlines in recent years.

He noted that Ryanair offers a discount on Irish whiskey if a double is ordered. Richard Holden, the Shadow Transport Secretary, said Mr O'Leary's newest proposal sounded "slightly draconian". " Airport venues are exempt from a licence to serve alcohol and are not governed by traditional operating hours.

Data from the Civil Aviation Authority showed disruptive passengers had worsened since the pandemic. Airlines including Ryanair and Jet2 are backing calls for a nationwide database for yobs on board. Jet2 said: "As a family-friendly airline we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour.

We will fully support the police with any subsequent investigations. This has led to custodial sentences in the past, demonstrating the very serious consequences that this behaviour can result in.