Ryanair Chief Slams Critics Amidst Profit Surge

Airline’s **Michael O’Leary** Unloads on Regulators and Rivals

Despite Ryanair’s second-quarter profits soaring past €820 million and its shares climbing 45% this year, CEO **Michael O’Leary** maintained his famously combative stance during the company’s latest earnings call.

An Unsparing Critique

Instead of a typical corporate update, **O’Leary** delivered a blistering personal attack on various aviation bodies. He referred to the European Parliament as a “home for crazies” and characterized Germany as having “no aviation policy whatsoever.”

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary: “France's air traffic control strikes drew particular ire: he urged Brussels to let overflights bypass national disruption. “It does mean upsetting some French unions, but I think that’s always a cause well worthwhile. The more you can upset French unions, the better.” pic.twitter.com/P3b2C2K6tV

— Ryanair (customer service) (@Ryanair) May 4, 2024

Targeting Spain and Dublin

Spanish consumer fines imposed on low-cost carriers were dismissed by **O’Leary** as “Minister [Pablo] Bustinduy’s mad cap bag fines.” He also criticized the 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport as “indefensible,” particularly for a country facing an election within five years.

Dismissing Competition

The airline Wizz Air was also a target, with **O’Leary** stating that it is “not a low-cost competitor of Ryanair. It’s a high-cost competitor … and therefore, not really competitor at all.” He confidently predicted Wizz Air would be “taken out” within five years.

The aviation sector is facing increased scrutiny over environmental impacts, with the EU aiming for a 10% reduction in aviation emissions by 2030 through its ‘Fit for 55’ package. (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2021)

A Brusque Farewell

The call concluded with **O’Leary**’s characteristic brevity: “Thank you very much, everybody, and we’ll all go back to work now.”