Ryanair targets - O’Leary still thinking big

RYANAIR chief executive Michael O’Leary is one of Ireland’s most successful businessmen and one of the very few truly successful airline bosses in the world today.

Today he tells us he expects Ryanair to make €800 million a year and carry 100m passengers within five years. Optimism in the face of growing recession.

He describes Brian Lenihan’s budget as a wasted opportunity and that the €10-a-flight levy it introduced will close Shannon.

“You will see tumbleweed rolling across the ground at Shannon,” he said. “This travel tax... will effectively be responsible for closing Shannon Airport.”

It is not always easy to love Mr O’Leary or his airline but it is impossible to deny that it has revolutionised air travel, the business and the role of unions in it.

And though Mr O’leary is not beyond using whatever platform he can to advance his cause it would be a foolish person who would not listen to what he has to say.

How wonderful it would be if his energy and optimism were contagious.