Ryanair Holdings PLC (LSE:RYA) has ramped its actions against rowdy passengers by suing one traveller whose behaviour caused a flight to be diverted.
In what the airline described as a major clampdown on misconduct, the carrier said it has started proceedings against the passenger to recover €15,000 for the extra costs of a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote.
Ryanair said the passenger’s 'unacceptable' actions forced to plane to stay overnight at Porto with 160 passengers losing a day from their holiday.
The amounts being claimed reflects costs of overnight accommodation, other passenger expenses and landing costs.
Ryanair said it was the first time it had taken action in a civil case against a disruptive passenger, adding it was now adopting a zero-tolerance attitude towards unruly behaviour.
Concern about drunkenness and aggrieve passengers came to a head last year when Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary [pictured] called for a two-drink limit at airport bars to curb the problem.