Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has issued an apology for previously comparing competitor airlines to “rapists”, saying it has caused “considerable upset and offence”, in a video message
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary has issued an apology for previously comparing competitor airlines to “rapists” just days after stating he would not apologies for his comments.
O’Leary made the comment ahead of his airline’s annual general meeting in Dublin last Thursday (September 10). He claimed rising air travel prices at other airlines would see passengers switch to Ryanair. It comes after The billionaire was heavily criticised by politicians in both Ireland and the UK.
He told reporters at the company’s headquarters: “You might find some people will choose not to fly with Ryanair – but you know they’ll be overrun with the people abandoning Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, BA, and others desperate to get to Ryanair’s low fares because they can’t afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe.”
O’Leary later repeated the “high-fare rapists” comments. He was then asked by the Press Association whether this was appropriate language, O’Leary told reporters: “Absolutely.”
He later said rape was a “terrible crime” but rejected the assertion he was trivialising rape. O’Leary then maintained he did not trivialise rape and stated he will not apologise until he changed his mind today.
O’Leary said said that it was having conversations with family and friends “both inside and outside Ryanair” that he realised “the word I used so carelessly has caused wide, considerable upset and offence to a wide number of people, especially to victims and survivors”.
In a video message on YouTube, where he made his apology, O’Leary said: “Last week at a press conference in Dublin, I used the term rapists to described the high fares of our competitor airlines. I was quizzed by the press if I was trivialising rape.
“I replied by asserting my firm belief that rape is a heinous and terrible crime which cannot be trivialised. I believe I couldn’t have been clearer in this regard.
“In conversations with family and friends, both inside and outside Ryanair, over the last 10 days, I have come to realise, however, that the word I used so carelessly has caused considerable upset and offence to a wide number of people, especially victims and survivors.
“I want to apologise, sincerely and unreservedly to those people, especially to the survivors.
“I am truly sorry for the offence and upset I have caused you by my careless use of those words. It won’t happen again. I will try to learn from this mistake and do better in the future. Thank you.”
The airline boss had previously refused to apologise, despite calls from the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), Rachel Morrogh, who said he had trivialised rape.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was among those who criticised his comments, but stopped short of stating that Mr O’Leary should apologise for the remarks.