Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary refuses to apologise over 'high-fare rapists' remarks

Remarks at Dublin headquarters

Speaking to reporters on Thursday ahead of Ryanair's annual general meeting at company headquarters in Dublin, chief executive Michael O'Leary defended his characterisation of rival European airlines. O'Leary claimed that rising airfares across the sector would prompt passengers to abandon competitors and switch to Ryanair. He specifically named Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, and British Airways while repeatedly using the term "high-fare rapists" to describe them. When a Press Association reporter questioned whether the phrasing was appropriate, O'Leary answered that it was "absolutely" appropriate and stated that he was willing to offend higher-priced airlines on a regular basis.

“British Airways, Lufthansa, and everybody else's high fares, I'll happily offend them on a regular basis.”

Clash with support organisations

The remarks prompted a swift response from support organisations in Ireland. Rachel Morrogh, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, condemned the phrasing as lazy and uninformed, noting that the centre received calls from distressed survivors of sexual assault. Morrogh offered O'Leary free training on how the trivialisation of rape harms victims and asked for a swift apology. Corrinne Hasson, executive director of the National Women's Council of Ireland, also labelled the remarks completely inappropriate and deeply offensive. In a written response delivered on Friday, O'Leary rejected both the apology request and the training offer, arguing that Morrogh's allegation that he perpetuated dismissive attitudes was false and defamatory.

“I am quite clear that no remarks of mine could possibly trivialise the heinous crime of rape. I will certainly not be issuing any apology or accepting your offer of training.”

Political condemnation in Dublin and London

Political leaders in Ireland and the United Kingdom criticised the remarks during events on Friday. At a Fine Gael parliamentary party think-in, Tánaiste Simon Harris described the language as clearly inappropriate and stated that O'Leary should listen to experts and rectify the matter. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke urged the airline executive to reflect and issue an apology, noting that agencies supporting sexual assault victims had reported how hurtful the language was. In London, UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told radio station LBC that women subjected to violence would not be rushing to book tickets with Ryanair. Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger argued that O'Leary intentionally used provocative language to generate headlines at the expense of sexual assault survivors.

“Victims of sexual crimes deserve our respect, deserve our support, and we've heard a number of agencies who do that support and work in the field really say how hurtful it has been.”

Background and past controversy

The dispute follows previous instances of aggressive rhetoric and controversies involving the Ryanair executive. In 2004, O'Leary referred to the operators of London Stansted Airport as a bunch of overcharging rapists during a dispute regarding airport fees. The executive has also drawn past criticism for describing company staff as lazy bastards and dismissing passenger refund requests as sob stories. Ahead of the previous Irish general election, O'Leary caused friction at a Fine Gael campaign event by remarking that he would not employ teachers to get things done, drawing rebukes from Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.