O’Leary tells AGM he’s not finished yet

RYANAIR’S chief executive has told shareholders he will be around for a number of years yet and a long-haul airline could be up to six years away.

Speaking at the company’s AGM in Dublin yesterday, Michael O’Leary also said the only way to secure the future of Aer Lingus in Ireland is for Ryanair to buy it. “I would be very concerned for the future of Aer Lingus in Ireland if it was bought by a non-Irish carrier,” Mr O’Leary said, adding that Ryanair remains a willing investor in the airline.

Ryanair has also submitted proposals to the Government on scrapping the travel tax and the separation of the Dublin Airport Authority. In return, he said he would increase traffic at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, add six million passengers in Ireland and 20 additional aircraft over five years.