Fiery O’Leary attacks Government ‘muppets’

RYANAIR chief executive, Michael O’Leary, took on the environmentalists, the government, the airports and the mandarins in Brussels at a press conference in Dublin yesterday.

He also dealt with his potential time of departure as boss of the airline.

On the question of his retirement he said: “The last time I discussed it, it was 2008, but it might well be 2007. I might get the shove, you wouldn’t know,” he said with a smile.

On more serious matters he expressed concern that the profit warning intimated at, after the group announced first quarter profits of over €115m last week, might be misconstrued.

It has led to allegations among analysts of the group crying wolf.

Mr O’Leary said he wanted to make it clear that the fourth quarter would turn into a loss for the group only if oil stayed over 74 per barrel for the last quarter of the year, by which time it would be exposed to higher oil prices.

In the case of interference from Brussels in the airline sector he was scathing.

“It is not unusual that you get a bunch of fat, expense account politicians and civil servants in Brussels trying to hide the taxes that passengers are paying,” he said.

That was in response to a question suggesting the group’s offer of seats for one cent might mislead some people.

On the financial pressures on Cork and Shannon Airports and the failure of the government to build the second terminal Mr O’Leary said he would urge the government to take a lead from Dermot Desmond and sell the stakes held by the state in Birmingham and Dusseldorf Airports.

“I would follow Dermot Desmond’s guide and not the muppets in the Department of Transport who couldn’t build or run anything,” he said.

On the issue of imposing an environmental tax on the airlines Mr O’Leary met the questioner half way, but not before he had a side swipe at the ‘do-gooders’ as he sees them.

“Aviation for some reason is the whipping boy of the environmentalists at the moment despite the fact that aviation accounts for 2% of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Road transport accounts for more than 22% of greenhouse gases.

“So what we say to a lot of the environmentalists is why don’t you give over and sell the car; stop driving the four wheel drive down to Sainsbury’s on a Saturday morning and walk.”