Airport rule break could see you fined £80,000

Holidaymakers have been warned their trips could be "ruined", as part of a campaign in place at over 20 British airports. The government-backed One Too Many initiative is reminding travellers to "fly responsibly" or face the consequences.

Ahead of what is set to be a hugely busy summer for international travel, London Stansted bosses have issued an alert, reminding passengers not to fall foul of an important airport rule. The update, issued on X on Friday, reads: "Did you know that if you are deemed unfit to fly, you may be denied boarding and you could face up to two years in jail for disrupting a flight?"

Text on an accompanying image adds: "One too many is all it takes to ruin a holiday, cause a delay, land YOU in jail, cancel a flight, [and/or] divert a plane". Passengers who drink too much at the airport could find themselves denied boarding, banned permanently by the airline, or hit with hefty fines reaching up to £80,000 if their behaviour causes a flight to be diverted.

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As well as Stansted, the One Too Many campaign is in operation at other leading airports, such as London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon. Karen Dee, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, said: "UK airports are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all passengers. We urge travellers to enjoy their journeys responsibly and not ruin their holidays or the holidays of others."

She further added that airports will persistently monitor and take action against any unruly behaviour to guarantee everyone's safety. The government, including the Department for Transport and the Home Office, has been supporting the One Too Many campaign since it first launched in 2018.