Reports indicate an 80pc increase in incidents of disruptive passenger behaviour at Dublin Airport so far this year compared to the entire number of incidents recorded in 2024.
The first five months of this year saw the Dublin Airport garda station handle over 30 incidents, reflecting an increase of 50pc on incidents recorded in 2023.
Common issues this year have included offensive behaviour, obstruction or assaults on authorised officers, and intoxicated individuals onboard aircraft.
The airline industry has launched the ##Notonmyflight awareness campaign.
Ryanair’s Chief Risk Officer, Carol Sharkey, said, “Ryanair is pleased to support the Irish aviation industry’s #NotOnMyFlight campaign to tackle disruptive passenger behaviour. The safety and wellbeing of our crew and passengers is Ryanair’s No.1 priority, and we will continue to work closely with An Garda Síochána, the IAA, Irish Airports and the wider aviation industry to eradicate all forms of disruptive passenger behaviour in airports and onboard our aircraft.”
Paul Cleary, Assistant Commissioner, Dublin Metropolitan Region An Garda Síochána, said, “”There is no excuse for anti-social or disruptive behaviour. While the majority of people travel respectfully, An Garda Síochána is prepared to act where necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment for all who travel through our airports. Aviation workers have a right to a safe working environment and to be treated with dignity and respect.” There is no excuse for anti-social or disruptive behaviour. As highlighted in this week’s episode of Crimecall, incidents of unruly conduct in airports and on planes can have serious consequences for both passengers and staff. It can be a frightening experience that endangers passengers and crew, while it can also mean delayed flights and missed connections. Over the past year we have been working with our aviation partners under a joint declaration to address disruptive and dangerous behaviour, and we remain very committed to that. While the majority of people travel respectfully, An Garda Síochána is prepared to act where necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment for all who travel through our airports.”
According to Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, the operator of Dublin and Cork airports:
“We’ve great passengers at Dublin and Cork airports, but like every airport in the world there’s sometimes a few bad eggs whose behaviour impacts everyone. We want our airports to be enjoyable and stress-free for passengers and it’s important that the sector works together to tackle the issue of unruly and dangerous behaviour. Everyone needs to play their part and daa will continue to work closely with our Airport Police teams, our airline partners and An Garda Síochána to ensure unruly passengers are dealt with and our airports are safe and enjoyable places for all.”
Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer: “At Aer Lingus we put safety First. There’s nothing more important. This is why we ask our customers to give their full attention during the safety announcement and demonstration before departure that reminds all passengers to follow crew instructions, refrain from smoking or vaping onboard, and avoid consuming alcohol purchased in the airport while on the flight.In rare cases of unruly behaviour onboard, our crew is highly trained to manage such situations with professionalism and care, but in extreme circumstances, we may need to involve police. Aer Lingus proudly supports the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) #NotOnMyFlight campaign, an industry-wide initiative aimed at combating disruptive passenger behaviour in airports and on flights.”
Jim Gavin, Chief Operations Officer, Irish Aviation Authority, said, “The #NotOnMyFlight campaign continues to reflect our strong commitment to supporting frontline airport staff, flight and cabin crew, and to safeguarding passengers by making it clear that unruly passenger behaviour will not be tolerated. We’re encouraged by the progress made over the past year and welcome the support of Fórsa and IALPA, whose frontline perspectives are important. As we head into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, we’re reminding all passengers travelling through Irish airports that respectful behaviour is not just expected – it’s essential to ensuring a safe and positive flying experience for everyone.”
Fórsa’s National Secretary, Katie Morgan, said, “Fórsa is fully supportive of the #NotOnMyFlight campaign. Our members in airlines and airports are often the first responders to unruly passenger behaviour. As a trade union, the potential risk of unruly passenger behaviour to the health and safety of our members is a crucial matter of concern. We’ve seen first-hand the effect that some unruly passenger behaviour has had on our members. Aviation workers have a right to a safe working environment and to be treated with dignity and respect. They prioritise the travelling public’s safety, and this campaign helps prioritise their safety.”
Captain Daniel Langan, IALPA Vice President, shared, “Unruly passengers diminish safety both in the cabin and the flight deck by increasing the workload of pilots and crew. Sometimes this results in the pilot having to decide to divert the aircraft and deliver the unruly passenger into police custody. Under international law, the sole person to deal with unruly passengers onboard an aircraft is the Captain, a responsibility we take very seriously for the safety of our crew and our passengers. Pilots welcome the #NotOnMyFlight campaign, and the focus on safety in the lead up to the busy travel period ahead.”
