Former Ryanair operations chief Peter Bellew free to join rivals EasyJet, judge rules

Judge Allen said the legitimate interest of Ryanair in restraining Mr Bellew from taking up alternative employment was limited to roles which would risk the disclosure or use of its protectable information.

Ryanair’s operations chief Peter Bellew can join the company’s arch rival EasyJet after Mr Justice Senan Allen held in the High Court today that a clause in the operations manager’s work contract restraining him from working for another airline for 12 months is unenforceable.

Judge Allen said Ryanair had sought to compel Mr Bellew to comply with a covenant that he would not work for a year following termination with Ryanair and, while Ryanair had proved a legitimate interest in exacting the covenant from Bellew, it went beyond what Ryanair had shown to be justified.