Ryanair chief does a business class U-turn

I WISH rather bemused by Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary’s recent comments about ‘fat cat’ business travellers.

Following the Stern report on climate change last November, he was attacked for saying “the little damage caused by aviation could be reduced by banning business class”.

He was further quoted as stating: “We should outlaw business class traffic. We should pack them into economy class rather than having the fat and overfed business class travellers who flew around in flat-bed seats farting and burping, after their fine wines and haute cuisine.”

Very sound, environmentally aware sentiments from the chief executive of a leading plc whose chairman, David Bonderman, is a director of Continental Airlines — a company that promotes business class services.

Last Friday week the media reported Mr O’Leary as proposing to offer business class services on Ryanair to compete with those on offer from established long-haul airlines. He is quoted as saying: “The front of the cabin is where the real money is made and this will be a super-duper product way ahead of anything that Aer Lingus and British Airways has to offer.”

Will the real Michael O’Leary please stand up. He should decide whether he intends to welcome or vilify the “fat and overfed” business class. Or is this merely an example of corporate identity crisis attributable to Friday the 13th.

Patrick Jordan

50 Monksfield Heights

Clondalkin

Dublin 22