A man has been fined $10,000 and ordered to pay more than $48,000 to an airline for disrupting a flight to Sydney and forcing it to return to Perth.

Brenden James Tume, 23, pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday, to two charges arising from the Virgin flight, carrying 81 passengers and crew, in July last year.

The court was told Tume was intoxicated and fell asleep as soon as he boarded the late afternoon flight.

Commonwealth prosecutor Kate Gregory said crew members thought he had passed out and when they tried to wake him, Tume became "angry, aggressive and abusive".

Ms Gregory said when Tume could not find his wallet he threw magazines around, clenched his fists and shook them at the crew and yelled, "I will get you. I will cause a stir and bring this plane down".

The court heard the captain then made the decision to turn the flight back for the safety of the crew and passengers, and landed the aircraft in Perth about 7:00pm.

Ms Gregory said that "caused passengers and the airline to suffer financially" because a flight could not be organised until the next day to due the curfew at Sydney airport.

"Passengers had to be sent to a hotel and the aircraft had to be refuelled," she said

Tume 'upset' by behaviour

The court heard Tume told police after his arrest that he had consumed cannabis and amphetamines before the flight, but his lawyer, Travis Cranley, told the court his client denied taking any amphetamines.

Mr Cranley said his client was a father of two, with a third child on the way.

The court heard Tume's partner and children live in Perth, but he works in his family's removal business in Sydney and flies between the two cities regularly.

Mr Cranley said Tume was "upset" that his behaviour may have caused fear among others, particularly children and said he had "no intention" of putting anyone at risk.

Chief Magistrate Steven Heath described Tume's actions as "inappropriate, irrational and selfish" and said "people are exposed in an aircraft".

"They are vulnerable and if people misbehave it affects the comfort and security of the passengers," Mr Heath said.

"As a result of your behaviour the airline incurred substantial loss and each of the 81 passengers suffered inconvenience to wait to travel the following day."

Tume was fined $5,000 on each of the two charges and was also ordered to pay $48,568.90 reparation to Virgin.

Mr Heath said: "reparation is entirely appropriate because of all these losses are a direct result of your behaviour".