Ryanair bans booze on flights from UK to Ibiza

The budget airline has decided to ban all duty-free alcohol from the cabin on flights travelling to Ibiza from the UK to improve the "comfort and safety" of passengers and crew.

The Irish airline sent an email to passengers informing them that they would not be allowed to take duty free alcohol onto flights to Ibiza and would instead have to put the booze in the hold or pour it away.

"The comfort and safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority," a Ryanair spokesman told The Local.

"Having consulted with our customers and the airports, customers flying from the UK to Ibiza will no longer be permitted to carry duty free alcohol on board the aircraft".

In an email sent to passengers, the airline said: "customers will not be allowed to carry alcohol on board and all cabin baggage will be searched at the boarding gates".

It added that "any alcohol purchased in the airport shops or elsewhere must be packed carefully in a suitable item of cabin baggage, which will be tagged at the gate and then placed in the aircraft hold free of charge.

"If the bag is unsuitable for placing in the hold (e.g. plastic bag) then customers will be required to dispose of the alcohol in the bins provided".

The airline also warned passengers against trying to conceal alcohol when boarding, adding that "boarding gates will be carefully monitored and customers showing any signs of anti-social behaviour or attempting to conceal alcohol will be denied travel without refund or compensation."

Fellow budget airline Jet2 recently announced a new "hardline" approach to inappropriate passenger behaviour after a flight from Leeds-Bradford Airport to Alicante had to be diverted because of a “drunk and offensive” passenger.