Ryanair clearly states it will not carry certain passengers in these circumstances

After the pandemic put a halt on pretty much all international travel for much of 2020, the industry has bounced back with a bang, and 2024 is expected to be one of the busiest years on record. September is usually the second most popular month of the year for people to go abroad, after August, with many jetting off to catch the last of the warm weather in parts of Europe.

However, along with the recent surge in bookings, there has also been a spike in “air rage incidents”, with travel expert Simon Calder recently saying on his Independent Travel Podcast that cases of aggressive or violent behaviour on flights are “kind of at an all-time high”. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, a guest on the episode, added: “We are seeing record numbers. We and most of the airlines around Europe are seeing a spike upwards, particularly this summer, of disgruntled passengers on board.”

Last month, a Ryanair flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Tenerife had to be diverted to Lisbon after a passenger “became disruptive” on board. A spokesperson for Ryanair told the ECHO at the time: “This flight from Liverpool to Tenerife diverted to Lisbon when a passenger became disruptive onboard.

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“Crew called ahead for police assistance and the aircraft was met by local police upon arrival who removed the passenger before this flight continued to Tenerife.”

Ryanair rules state that passengers may be restrained or even removed from the plane, and/or refused a seat on any other flight, if their behaviour “causes a danger to the plane or any person or property on it”. This may also be the case if “your actions prevent the crew from performing their duties properly; you do not follow any instructions of the crew, including (but not limited to) those relating to smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs; or behave in a way which we reasonably believe may anger, upset, offend, intimidate, frighten or injure any passenger or crew member”.

As well as this, some Ryanair rules could see passengers refused entry from the flight altogether. According to guidance on its website, Ryanair “may refuse to carry you or your baggage on any flights operated by an airline of the Ryanair Group” if:

• This is necessary under any law, regulation or order that applies.
• Carrying you or your baggage may affect the safety, health or acceptable comfort of other passengers or crew members.
• Your mental state, physical state, attitude, behaviour or appearance, including the effects of alcohol or drugs, presents a risk to you, other passengers or crew members, or any property.
• You have behaved in an unacceptable way on a previous flight, and we have reason to believe that you may behave that way again.
• You have refused to go through a security check.
• You have not paid any necessary fare, tax, fee or charge.
• You owe Ryanair any money in respect of a previous flight or (flight related services) owing to payment having been dishonoured, denied or recharged against us.
• You do not appear to have valid travel documents.
• You have destroyed your travel documents during a flight or you have refused to give your travel documents to the crew when asked to do so.
• You cannot prove that you are the person named on the boarding pass.
• You have not followed our instructions relating to safety or security.
• You have smoked, or tried to smoke, on a previous Ryanair flight.

Ryanair information continues: “If we refuse to carry you for one of the reasons above, or have removed you from the plane, we may cancel any unused part of your ticket and refund you the price you have paid for this unused ticket. We will not be liable for any loss, damage death or physical injury alleged to be due to our refusal to carry you or your baggage in these circumstances.”