Ryanair has announced a new policy that will see disruptive passengers fined €500 if their behaviour results in removal from a flight. The move is part of the airline’s broader effort to crack down on unruly conduct and ensure a more pleasant travel experience for both passengers and crew.
In a statement released this week, the low-cost carrier said that while disruptive incidents are rare, they can significantly impact the flight experience for other travellers. The €500 fine will serve as a minimum penalty, with Ryanair also reserving the right to pursue further civil damages.
“Passengers rightly expect to travel in a comfortable and stress-free environment, with on-time arrivals,” the airline said. “This new fine targets the tiny number of passengers whose unacceptable behaviour causes unnecessary disruption.”
A Ryanair spokesperson emphasized that while such incidents are not widespread, they remain a concern across the aviation industry. “It is unacceptable that hundreds of passengers and crew should suffer delays or stress due to the actions of a single unruly individual,” the spokesperson said.
The fine will apply specifically to passengers who are offloaded from the aircraft due to misconduct. The airline hopes the measure will act as a deterrent and reduce the number of incidents involving disruptive behaviour.
“While these are isolated events that affect all airlines, disruptive behaviour in such a confined, shared space is unacceptable,” the spokesperson added. “We believe our proactive approach will help eliminate such incidents and protect the travel experience for the vast majority of our well-behaved passengers.”
The announcement comes amid growing concerns in the industry over passenger conduct, particularly in light of recent incidents across European carriers that have led to diversions and delays. Ryanair’s decision marks one of the more aggressive moves by a major airline to impose direct financial penalties on unruly travellers.
The airline has not disclosed how the fine will be collected but confirmed it would be enforced alongside any additional legal actions taken in severe cases.
