Ryanair chief expects Iran conflict will be over quickly because Trump 'has a short attention span' 

Ryanair chief executive Michael said the company is willing to repatriate people stuck in parts of the Middle East but said the airline has only a limited number of spare planes. Picture: PA

Ryanair chief executive Michael said the company is willing to repatriate people stuck in parts of the Middle East but said the airline has only a limited number of spare planes. 

Mr O'Leary said Ryanair aims to repatriate passengers stuck in Jordan, where the airspace is partially closed, but cautioned that this probably won’t happen before the weekend. While the airline would be willing to help bring back people stuck in other parts of the Middle East, Mr O'Leary said Ryanair has a limited number of spare planes as the company prepares for its busy summer travel period. 

"Wherever we can help with repatriations, we would try to be helpful but our focus is our customers who are currently stranded in Jordan," said Mr O'Leary.

Mr O’Leary said he believes the war will be over quickly because Iran can’t keep up the retaliation and because US president Donald Trump “has a short attention span so he would want it to be over reasonably quickly or he’ll get bored.” “The Gulf states will suffer damage to their tourism product,” O’Leary said.

In the short term, Ryanair will benefit as the airline is hedged on oil prices and because people are turning to short-haul bookings of the kind offered by the Irish discount carrier, he said.