The Traveller's Magazine
According to IATA, 15,000 serious alcohol-related incidents have occurred on flights since 2007. It’s a growing number which could push airlines to stop serving alcohol on planes completely.
Last September a few Scottish revellers got a little too tipsy and forced a Ryanair flight to Ibiza to make an emergency landing at Paris Beauvais Airport. For 6 years, alcohol and anti-social behaviour problems have been increasing onboard aircraft and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is determined to put a stop to it.
Aeroflot and Aer Lingus to pioneer the move
Tim Colehan, a Geneva-based representative for IATA said the organisation
“aims to use a conference in Montreal next March to seek agreement on the rights of crews and captains to do whatever is necessary to subdue offenders.”
How? Simply by removing alcohol onboard; Aeroflot and Aer Lingus have already done it on certain “at risk” routes (Dublin to Ibiza, for example). Airlines can also prohibit passengers from drinking bottles of alcohol that they’ve purchased from duty free prior to the flight departing.
It has to be pointed out that problems with drunk passengers are also racking up the costs. According to IATA, drunk passengers represent a sum that starts at around €8,000 for material damage to more than €16,000 for making an emergency landing, like the one we mentioned above at Paris Beauvais Airport. Not to mention the inconvenience to other passengers and the crew members…
Finally, don’t forget there are plenty of other ways to get over your fear of flying than drinking your fear away!
