Ryanair CEO Apologizes for 'High-Fare Rapists' Remark

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has issued an apology for describing rival airlines as "high-fare rapists," admitting that his choice of words was careless and caused considerable offense, particularly to victims and survivors of sexual assault.

In a video posted on Friday, O'Leary stated, "I want to apologise, sincerely and unreservedly, to those people, especially to the survivors." He acknowledged that he had come to realize the word used "so carelessly has caused considerable upset and offense to a wide number of people." O'Leary promised that "it won't happen again" and that he would "try to learn from this mistake, and do better in future."

The controversial remarks were made earlier this month by O'Leary while speaking to journalists ahead of Ryanair's annual shareholder meeting. He had initially defended his language when questioned by a reporter, stating, "British Airways, Lufthansa, and everybody else's high fares, I'll happily offend them on a regular basis." When asked if it would offend victims of sexual assault, he responded that rape was "a terrible crime."

Following his initial comments, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) wrote to O'Leary requesting an apology. The center's chief executive, Rachel Morrogh, accused O'Leary of seeking headlines and informed him that the DRCC had received calls from rape victims who were "upset and distressed." Morrogh offered O'Leary training on the impact of sexual violence and urged him to apologize, suggesting he would not use such terms so flippantly if he understood the experience of surviving rape.

O'Leary's initial response to the DRCC was that he was "quite clear that no remarks of mine could possibly trivialize the heinous crime of rape" and therefore would not issue an apology or accept the training offer. However, after conversations with family and friends, he changed his stance.

This is not the first time O'Leary has used inflammatory language. In 2004, he reportedly called the owners of Stansted Airport "a bunch of overcharging rapists" during a dispute over airport charges. He has also previously referred to some Ryanair staff as "lazy bastards" and told passengers seeking refunds, "we don't want to hear your sob stories."

In June, Ryanair announced it would "reluctantly" stop charging parents to sit next to their children after a watchdog investigation was opened, though O'Leary insisted the previous policy had complied with laws.