Ryanair should be celebrated, not derided

Tuesday morning’s news bulletins on RTÉ (October 7) led with an incident at Dublin airport where two taxiing Ryanair aircraft brushed wings.

The airport authority’s announcement that the airport was continuing service as normal was a secondary news item as was the fact that no passenger was injured.

But then the News is what the broadcasters choose to tell us. Ryanair, after the Catholic Church, is the ‘bete noir’ of the media and the political establishment.

It is time we grew up. Ryanair should be a national showcase: the biggest airline in the world and more importantly the one that made air travel affordable for ordinary people.

Trade unions conspiring with a national monopoly, Aer Lingus, kept air travel exclusive until the Ryanair model hit the market.

Back in the ’60s a round trip to London was a minimum of £200. What is that in today’s value? A round trip to Australia probably, or Bali?

It is time we got over our begrudgery and feted people like Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary for their achievements instead of honouring flashy stars.

Margaret Hickey

Castleowen

Blarney

Co Cork