O’Leary faces hard landing in legal battle

LOVE him or hate him, there is no doubt that Ryanair’s abrasive chief executive Michael O’Leary has revolutionised tourism in Europe by opening up the airways to millions of people with a low fares, no frills service.

But when he comes down to earth after his honeymoon, Mr O’Leary will find serious questions hanging over his budget airline’s policy following its defeat in a legal battle to delay a court ruling that will effectively end its service to Strasbourg on “anti-competitive” grounds.

Last month, the court ordered Strasbourg Chamber of Commerce to end “incentive payments” worth €1.4 million to Ryanair for flying to the French city.