Ryanair CEO Under Fire for Comparing Airlines to 'Rapists'

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary is facing widespread criticism for comparing competitor airlines to "rapists," remarks that have been called "disgusting" and "deeply inappropriate" by politicians and victims' advocates.

Tánaiste Simon Harris stated that O'Leary should "rectify" his comments, which were made in the context of rising air travel prices and passengers potentially switching to Ryanair for lower fares. O'Leary had said that passengers might choose to "abandon 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." He later repeated the phrase when asked if it was appropriate, responding, "Absolutely."

When challenged on whether the language was offensive to victims of rape and sexual assault, O'Leary stated he would "happily offend" the airlines and rejected the assertion that he was trivializing rape, though he acknowledged it is a "terrible crime."

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh expressed dismay at the "lazy and uninformed comments," noting they would be "deeply hurtful and angering" to survivors. She offered O'Leary training on "how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful."

Ciara Bergman, chief executive of Rape Crisis England & Wales, called the comparison "shameful and embarrassing" and "deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse." She offered to meet with O'Leary to explain the work of rape crisis organizations in challenging the trivialization of sexual violence.

Corrinne Hasson of the National Women’s Council described the remarks as "completely inappropriate and deeply offensive to survivors of sexual violence." She added that comparing rape to selling airline tickets "undermines the experiences and trauma of survivors" and contributes to a "rape culture."

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers echoed these sentiments, calling the comments "shocking" and urging O'Leary to withdraw them. He stated, "We should never put victims in that light in the context of competition in aviation."

A spokesperson for Fórsa, the union representing Ryanair cabin crew in Ireland, also deemed the comments "deeply inappropriate."

Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger criticized O'Leary for "trivialis[ing] rape and sexual assault by bandying around the word 'rapists' in order to get a provocative soundbite" and called for an apology and withdrawal of the remarks. This incident occurred ahead of Ryanair's annual general meeting in Dublin.