As an ex Dispatcher, I despise drunk passengers and do fully agree that all passengers under the influence of alcohol should be removed from the Aircraft.
The hard reality is the Airlines are at fault with the pressure put on Ground Handling Agents.
In reality in most situations the ground staff will not be able to ascertain that a passenger is drunk until -25 mins before departure at the earliest. Obviously referring to pax drunk post check-in.
A typical scenario:
2 Groups of 10 males traveling together to Ibiza on a Saturday Night.
They are very happy, clearly had too much to drink and fall into the category of removal from the flight.
These groups are discovered at -25 before departure. It will take up to 10 minutes to find the location of the bags.
Followed by anything from 15-40 minutes to strip the holds for these bags and reload. Chances are the bags will be spread through all the holds.
This will be put down as a Ground Handling Delay. Which the airline will investigate.
These are strictly monitored by the Airlines and clearly huge pressure is placed on the Ground Handling Agent to make on time departures.
The odd off-load for drunkenness is acceptable.
However if we realistically enforced all pax offloaded when they were under the influence every flight would be delayed.
Anyone see a solution to this ?
Well there is:
If the airlines allowed boarding at -40 minutes from departure or boarding to holding lounges without alcohol facilities.
These passengers could be highlighted earlier.
However this would all come down to money. Clearly Safety is more important! Isn't it?