Ryanair is demanding that passengers be stopped from drinking too much before boarding flights.

The budget airline believes it would help with the growing problem of disruptive behaviour onboard its flights.

“It is time that EU authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports,” the Irish airline said in a statement.

“We fail to understand why passengers at airports are not limited to two alcoholic drinks (using their boarding pass in exactly the same way they limit duty-free sales), as this would result in safer and better passenger behaviour on board aircraft, and a safer travel experience for passengers and crews all over Europe.”

The demand comes as Ryanair is suing a passenger for €15,000 after their behaviour caused a flight to be diverted in April 2024.

The budget airline alleges that this passenger’s “inexcusable behaviour” on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote was so disruptive that it forced the aircraft to divert to Porto, Portugal for safety – where they had to pay for crew members and over 160 other passengers to stay overnight.

Alcohol is already limited on flights

Ryanair pointed out that it and other airlines already limit alcohol sales in-flight – but said that passengers can still consume excess alcohol at airports before boarding, particularly during flight delays, without similar restrictions.

Aviation agencies have long expressed concern with disruptive, in-flight incidents – particularly those that result in violence against others on board, verbal abuse, harassment or other health hazards like smoking.

What is the financial cost of diverting a plane?

Ryanair has released details of the costs incurred after a disruptive passenger caused a flight to be diverted in April 2024.

More than 160 passengers and six crew were forced to stay overnight at Porto airport before flying onwards to Lanzarote on the following day.

The airline also had to provide an additional aircraft and crew to operate the delayed return flight from Lanzarote to Dublin.

The highest cost of €7,000 was to provide overnight accommodation and meals to passengers and crew in addition to €2,500 airport landing and handling fees, €1,800 in replacement crew costs €2,500 in Portuguese legal fees, €800 in excess fuel and €750 in lost in-flight sales.

Disruptive behaviour on flights is increasing

Although still rare, reports of unruly passengers on planes have recently been on the rise.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency notes that, while the agency could not provide specifics, “both the number and severity of incidents” have increased in Europe since 2020.

Worldwide, the International Air Transport Association found that there was one disruptive incident for every 480 flights in 2023, based on data from more 24,500 reports and 50 operators worldwide. That’s up from one every 568 in 2022.

How many of those incidents involved alcohol was not immediately known. But, among efforts aimed at preventing in-flight disruptive behavior overall, the IATA and other aviation groups have previously underlined the importance of serving alcohol responsibly, not allowing travelers who are too intoxicated to board and participating in additional safety initiatives, like ‘One Too Many’ in the UK.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration reported that it received 2,102 reports of unruly passenger incidents last year, resulting in $7.5 million (€7.3 million) in fines levied. That incident count is up 1 per cent from 2023, but still far below a 2021 peak of 5,973.

Travel in Belgium is severely affected today (13 January) by a nationwide strike.

Brussels Airport says they expected a “major impact” on flights and local, regional and international trains are also affected.

Public transport is also majorly affected and many schools are closed, with tens of thousands of teachers expected to attend a rally in Brussels.

The strike was called over possible pension reforms which are being discussed by parties trying to form a new government following Belgium’s June 2024 election.

Brussels airport: Are flights running?

According to a spokesperson for Brussels international airport, 40 per cent of flights are cancelled today. Delays to flights that are running are likely.

Cancellations happening throughout the day and evening.

Arrivals at Brussels airport are less affected than departures but there are still many cancellations.

Bear in mind that services within the airport, such as baggage and immigration, are likely to be slower than usual due to staff shortages.

What is the advice to passengers at Brussels airport?

Brussels airport said in a statement: “Passengers of affected flights will be informed by their airline or (online) travel agency”

You can check the status of your flight via the Brussels airport website or your airline’s website, app or social media channels.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport: All flights cancelled

Brussels South Charleroi Airport, which is used by budget airlines like Ryanair, has no flights departing after 12pm today.

In a statement the airport said: “Following the national demonstration planned for today in Brussels, Charleroi airport is facing a major unforeseen shortage of staff from the external security provider.

Security can no longer be guaranteed. As a result, all flights departing from Charleroi airport after 12pm have been cancelled until the end of the day. Arrivals are scheduled as normal.”

Charleroi airport’s advice to passengers is to “contact their airline”.

Belgium strikes: Are trains cancelled?

Many staff who work on the trains and at stations are on strike there local and regional trains are severely affected, with many cancellations.

For local and regiunal trains, you can find full details of which services are and aren’t running from national train operator SNCB here.

For international trains to and from Belgium:

• Eurostar, TGV INOUI, ICE and OUIGO Brussels-Paris: all trains will be running as scheduled.
• Eurocity Direct (Brussels-Amsterdam): in both directions, 14 trains out of 16 will be running.
• EuroCity (Brussels-Rotterdam): 10 trains out of 16 will be running from Brussels to Rotterdam / 9 trains out of 16 will be running back from Rotterdam to Brussels.
• Nightjet : The train to Vienna and Berlin on Monday 13/01 will depart from Cologne. Between Cologne and Brussels/Liège, passengers can use ICE trains.
• Regional cross-border trains: 30 per cent of trains running on the Liège-Maastricht and Arlon-Luxembourg services, 25% running on the Charleroi-Maubeuge service. No trains on the Kortrijk-Lille, Tournai-Lille, Antwerp-Roosendaal, Liège-Aachen and Liège-Luxembourg services.

Full details on international trains and claiming a refund for cancelled services can be found here.

Are passengers entitled to compensation due to a strike?

Under EU law, if a flight is cancelled, the airline has to offer your a refund or an alternative flights.

If your flight is delayed, you may be entitled to refunds for unplanned expenses, such as food and accommodation.

Contact your airline or travel agent to claim your refunds, though beware it can take months for your money to arrive.

According to EU law, rail passengers within the bloc are also entitled to compensation.

If your train is delayed but you choose to travel anyway, you may still be eligible for a partial or full refund. This usually depends on how late your train arrives at its destination.

If your train is delayed by more than 60 minutes, you can choose not to travel and will receive a full refund for your ticket.

Alternatively, you can choose to travel at a later date.

SNCB has full details on how to claim a refund here.

The rampant wildfires consuming vast swathes of Los Angeles have forced around 180,000 people to evacuate.

Many now don’t have homes to return to; the flames have ripped through entire neighbourhoods leaving properties as smouldering wrecks.

Dozens of businesses have now come forward to offer accommodation, transport and support to those who have had to flee.

Resources available include stays in Airbnb properties and Uber rides.

LA vacation rentals offered as free accommodation

Holiday rental site Airbnb is offering free temporary housing for people displaced by the wildfires.

The organisation has partnered with 211 LA, a non-profit organisation connecting residents with essential services, to put people in touch with property owners.

The stays are funded by Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb that provides free emergency housing in times of crisis, and Airbnb hosts.

They are specifically focused on residents who have either lost their home or been forced to evacuate in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica and Sylmar areas.

More information can be found here.

Vrbo, an online marketplace for holiday rentals, is offering refunds to guests who have been forced to cancel reservations at properties in fire-affected areas.

LA fires: Hotels offer discounts on rooms

Hotels across Los Angeles are offering discounted room rates for evacuees.

Los Angeles Tourism has compiled a list of hotels that are offering discounts to those displaced here.

Hotels in Anaheim are also offering reduced room rates for those affected in the Southern California area.

Guests should keep their receipts and take photos of them to submit to their home or travel insurance company for reimbursement.

LA fires: Hotels welcome pets and Uber offers free rides

People fleeing with pets are being welcomed at various properties outside the city including the Hilton Irvine Orange County Airport, Alisal Ranch and the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.

Ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft are offering free transport – up to $40 (€39) and two trips of up to $25 (€24) respectively – to shelters for those in fire-affected areas.