Alcohol consumption: Zero-tolerance not enough when it comes to airline safety

The first documented case of air rage was recorded in 1947 on a flight from Havana in Cuba to Miami, Florida, when a drunk man assaulted another passenger and a flight attendant. It wasn’t the last. One of the most serious cases occurred last June when a young woman attempted to open the cabin door on a Jet2 flight from London Stansted to Dalaman in Turkey. It had to return to Britain under escort from two RAF fighter jets.

Little wonder that airlines have been seeking ways to combat such behaviour which is often fueled by alcohol consumption. Thirteen organisations operating within the Irish aviation sector have signed a joint declaration, committing to tackling disruptive passenger behaviour on flights.

Air rage incidents rose by a third in one year (2017-2018) and at least once a month the situation escalates to such a degree that the captain has to perform an emergency landing.

The organisations that signed the agreement include Ryanair, Aer Lingus, the country’s main airports and the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

They have pledged to promote a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive behaviour where safety is a risk but this does not include a ban or even a limit on the sale of alcohol. Smokers have to deal with not getting their fix on flights; why not drinkers? It is hard to escape the conclusion that profits from the sale of alcohol at airports and on flights still hold sway.