Worst airline for drunken disruptions named – and it’s not Ryanair

When it comes to flying there’s nothing worse than disruptions. Whether it is a flight delay due to the weather, staff strikes or a fault in the system, it can be pretty annoying waiting around and sometimes for hours on end.

However, a new study has revealed the airlines where drunken flyers cause the most delays.

This is according to Go.Compare, who asked travellers about their experiences of intoxicated passengers when flying and their opinions of alcohol consumption on planes.

Those who said they had experienced drunken disruptions were also asked about which airlines the incidents took place.

Let’s take a look at the results in more detail.

EasyJet was named the worst airline for this behaviour overall, with 29 percent of those who have been disrupted by a drunk passenger saying it occurred on one of their flights.

Meanwhile, Ryanair was named runner-up with 22 percent.

Other airlines singled out include TUI and Jet2, which were named by 12 percent and 10 percent of disrupted passengers, respectively.

It wasn’t just low-cost operators on the list, though. The nation’s premium flag carrier airline also came in the top five.

British Airways was named by 15 percent of those disrupted, placing it third overall.

The top five airlines with drunken disruptions:

EasyJet – 29 percent

Ryanair – 22 percent

British Airways – 15 percent

TUI – 12 percent

Jet2 – 10 percent

In total, just under a fifth (17 percent ) of travellers said they’ve been on a flight that a drunk passenger disrupted.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the problem tends to be more common for flyers going on holiday. Around a fifth (17 percent) of flyers who travelled for leisure said they had been disrupted, compared to only 5 percent of those who were flying for business reasons.

Under the Air Navigation Order, it’s against the law for anyone to be intoxicated while on or boarding an aircraft, meaning a large number of flyers break the law while travelling on a plane.

Passengers who get drunk on a plane can face a maximum punishment of two years in prison and a £5,000 fine.

Despite this, most travellers are against the introduction of alcohol restrictions for air travel. Around 29 percent believe alcohol should be banned in airports, with over a third (34 percent) saying a ban should apply to airlines.

Yet, over half (57 percent) don’t believe either measure should be introduced.

Rhys Jones, a travel expert at Go.Compare, said: “Whether it’s due to the destinations they visit, their alcohol policies, or how much they charge for drinks, some airlines are clearly worse than others for drunken disruption.

“If you’re someone who prefers a flight without any drama, this might be something to consider when choosing which operator you travel with for your next holiday.”