BY: Rachael O’Connor
October 02, 2019

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THE IRISH Aviation Authority has said that a complete ban of alcohol on flights could be considered and is ‘absolutely on the table’.

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Paul Brandon, the IAA’s head of corporate affairs, was speaking on the RTE radio show Morning Ireland when he was asked if the authority was considering a ban on the sale of alcohol on flights.

“It is absolutely on the table,” Mr Brandon said. “But our preference is to focus on the awareness of the risk if they disrupt a flight.”

His comments come amid a new campaign by businesses including Ryanair, Aer Lingus and the Commission for Aviation Regulation, entitled ‘Not On My Flight’, which aims to raise awareness of the undisputed link between alcohol and ‘air rage’ incidents on flights.

He stressed that for now the campaign is focused on educating passengers on the consequences they will face should they become disruptive while flying, and as of now they are are not banning alcohol, but said that in the future they will “see if there is a need for further action”.

According to Mr Brandon, the number of reported air rage incidents on flights across Europe increased by a third between 2017 – 18.

A study published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency found that a flight is disrupted approximately every three hours within EU airspace.

In May of this year, a flight from Dublin to Malta descended into chaos when as many as 150 drunken passengers began blaring music, dancing in the aisles and shouting at cabin crew.

See More: Aer Lingus, Air Rage, Alcohol Ban, Flight, IAA, Not On My Flight, Ryanair