Hey, you’ve gotta give Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary credit for his sense of humor, and his dedication to delivering his message.
In this post:
O’Leary pied at European Commission in Brussels
Earlier today, Ryanair’s outspoken boss, Michael O’Leary, visited the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, where he was preparing to hold a press conference, prior to handing a petition to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Just ahead of the press conference, two climate protestors approached O’Leary. One protestor came up to him, said “welcome to Belgium,” and then shouted “stop the pollution of the f****** planes.” A second protestor then threw a pie in his face.
O’Leary took it in stride. He responded “well done,” wiped off his face, took off his jacket, and then tried to continued his press conference. The press wanted to ask him about how he had just been pied, and he responded by saying “I love cream cakes, they’re my favorite!” What an absolutely brilliant handling of such a situation.
You also have to appreciate that rather than trying to hide this, Ryanair’s amazing social media team is highlighting what happened. The airline is joking that passengers are so happy with Ryanair that they’re “celebrating with cake,” and how “instead of buying cream cakes, could have bought a flight from Belgium for the same price.”
While climate protestors often target the aviation industry, it’s typically focused on private jets. While I realize these protestors basically want to eliminate aviation altogether, Ryanair at least has among the lowest per-passenger emissions of any airline out there, so relatively speaking, you have to appreciate that aspect of the airline.
So, what was Ryanair’s petition about?
Whether you like to fly Ryanair or not, the reality is that the airline does a lot to try to make aviation more affordable for everyone. The company takes on government after government to keep fares low, and to keep airspace open. While this is of course self-serving, I’d say that this largely aligns with the best interests of the public in keeping aviation affordable.
In this case, O’Leary was trying to present a petition with 1.5 million signatures, demanding that flights be allowed to cross French airspace during air traffic control strikes. Here’s how Ryanair describes this petition:
So far in 2023, French ATC (Air Traffic Control) strikes have forced Ryanair to cancel over 4000 flights mainly overflying France.
It is unacceptable that France uses Min Service Legislation to protect French flights during these repeated ATC strikes, while overflights, none of which are operating to/from France, suffer all these cancellations. This is unfair. The EU must act now to protect overflights and the EU Single Market.
Ryanair has repeatedly called on the EU Commission and Ursula von der Leyen to take action to protect EU passengers and overflights during repeated French ATC strikes. Ryanair calls on all passengers to sign our petition.
Do it today and send an urgent message to Ursula von der Leyen that EU citizens demand action to protect overflights during French ATC strikes.
Bottom line
Ryanair Group CEO was attacked by climate protestors today in Brussels, as he tried to deliver a petition to the European Commission. He was pied in the face, though his response was simply amazing. Huge credit to O’Leary for how he handled this. I think this might have been counterproductive for the climate protestors, as they actually brought more attention to what he was trying to fight for.
What do you make of O’Leary getting pied?
And that's unpaid publicity.
My respect towards Ryanair is increasing every day.
These criminals need to be charged with assault. Plain and simple.
Great move and reaction by Ryanair.
How would "pieing" someone ever help the cause of climate change? These people are not smart.
Of course these morons will never assault their climate change leaders (like John Kerry) that fly around around the world in private jets. They're low IQ, useful idiots.
Violence is not acceptable. I hope she is jailed.
If you think that is violence, then I think you may need some perspective...
You honestly don't have to hand it to that smug prick Ben. You really don't. He's an awful human being, that treats everyone with contempt. His reaction is typically smug, and deserves no commendation.
I want him in America! He can run for president, we need more people like him, people who don't give a toss about the little people. For crying out loud, he has done enough for poor people already by offering cheap fares so that they can ship themselves like cattle around the world.
He's perfect for America, I love him, God Bless America!
Those "activists" are lucky that i am not their CEO. They would have got knocked out.
In my view , Michael OLeary got more publicity for his overflying France petition to the EU than the silly climate change girls who gave him a cream pie . He handled the situation magnificently , this is why Ryan Air is so well managed , it is because of the direction from Michael OLeary downwards through management .
They are not "activists", but far-left extremists. Literally all it takes is five minutes on the respective homepages of these organisations like Last Generation or Extinction Rebellion. Getting rid of capitalism, replacing parliamentary decision-making with intransparantly chosen "climate councils", claiming to "rid society of decadence" etc. They are basically like a precursor to a new RAF at this point, and it is no surprise they are being watched by some intelligence services.
They are not "activists", but far-left extremists. Literally all it takes is five minutes on the respective homepages of these organisations like Last Generation or Extinction Rebellion. Getting rid of capitalism, replacing parliamentary decision-making with intransparantly chosen "climate councils", claiming to "rid society of decadence" etc. They are basically like a precursor to a new RAF at this point, and it is no surprise they are being watched by some intelligence services.
It’s good competition time to everybody everything. Jealous of your success or big winning or good fortune to marketing stock exchange…
However, this demonstration so called protester is not allowed to do illegal body touch illegal body contact to anyone else.
This protester is demanding money or cash to such a big Olympic market business big championship big casino big lottery airline flying’s air service marketplace…
Business is business…cash is cash, friend...
It’s good competition time to everybody everything. Jealous of your success or big winning or good fortune to marketing stock exchange…
However, this demonstration so called protester is not allowed to do illegal body touch illegal body contact to anyone else.
This protester is demanding money or cash to such a big Olympic market business big championship big casino big lottery airline flying’s air service marketplace…
Business is business…cash is cash, friend is friend.
Hate the protestors but glad to see this clown get pied in the face…. twice. Shame they didn’t break his nose or kick his lucky charms! For as many people as he’s screwed over he certainly deserves worse!
So you encourage physical injury. He’s not Putin. Karma
For thieves and swindlers like this guy, yes. Didn't you learn to hit the bully first in elementary school? Try not to fly too close to the sun Icarus, your brain seems to be melting already.
I hope the people that keep insisting on Aviation only contributing 2-3% to emissions will start doing some research. Yes, the actual emissions is 2-3%, but the co2e, the effect or impact of these emissions are closer to 10% as the emissions high altitude have a larger greenhouse effect compared to emissions on the ground. Please search for it.
I’m aware of several activists who fly frequently and are members of loyalty programmes.
Like the ones who glue themselves to roads and splash orange paint on buildings, they do themselves no favours as they alienate themselves from the people they are attempting to get on their side.
I'm convinced majority who protest in this way, or against such companies are completely indoctrinated with stupidity.
You attack the company that genuinely makes travel affordable for the majority of the population, and not those at the top who frivolously take private jets to wherever they desire?
These activists cannot be this stupid? Or perhaps targeting the first person they can think of is enough to give them some purpose in life.
At this rate,...
I'm convinced majority who protest in this way, or against such companies are completely indoctrinated with stupidity.
You attack the company that genuinely makes travel affordable for the majority of the population, and not those at the top who frivolously take private jets to wherever they desire?
These activists cannot be this stupid? Or perhaps targeting the first person they can think of is enough to give them some purpose in life.
At this rate, we're going to have no budget airlines, and these idiots will finally get their wish, and flying will be relegated to the upper elites who can afford exorbitant climate fees associated with air travel.
Job well done, geniuses
Climate terrorists is more like it.
I mean a cream pie is hardly terrorism.
I hope those thugs are arrested and put in jail and be put on the no-fly list.
Do not use the term thug.
Yeah, it's disrespectful to thugs.
They look classy to me
Arresting someone for throwing a cake at another person? You must be kidding. Tell me you're an American without saying you're an American... #letsjustjaileveryone #overreactingmuch
the best thing is that these climate clowns have given him so much more publicity than he wouldve otherwise got, so much so that you wonder if it was planned.
So when will activists throw pies in the face of the many climate conference attendees who needlessly travel instead of meeting online?
Sick of these climate protesters targeting an industry that accounts for less than 3% of emissions. Why don’t they go and demonstrate in China which has a hugely expanding aviation market
Yes, because all we need is that one silver bullet that'll solve the emissions and CO2 issue in its entirity and immediately, we just haven't found it right, I think it's just that we haven't searched hard enough, as people like ArnoldB just said, things "just takes 5mins" to conclude something.
Screw it if we can have 100+ different mini solutions and contributions to reach the 100 goal mark, it's simply too much ask...
Yes, because all we need is that one silver bullet that'll solve the emissions and CO2 issue in its entirity and immediately, we just haven't found it right, I think it's just that we haven't searched hard enough, as people like ArnoldB just said, things "just takes 5mins" to conclude something.
Screw it if we can have 100+ different mini solutions and contributions to reach the 100 goal mark, it's simply too much ask for humans and in particular for people like us who are Americans! It's our right to overconsume, problems only exist for poor people.
People are already losing their patience with these boorish, arrogant climate protesters, & it's only a matter of time before one of them is badly hurt. Recently there was video from Germany posted on X showing drivers slowly proceeding over Just Stop Oil protesters, until the protesters realised the drivers weren't fooling.
People aren't going to stop flying. If they think they can bring down the airline industry, or the oil industry, then they've...
People are already losing their patience with these boorish, arrogant climate protesters, & it's only a matter of time before one of them is badly hurt. Recently there was video from Germany posted on X showing drivers slowly proceeding over Just Stop Oil protesters, until the protesters realised the drivers weren't fooling.
People aren't going to stop flying. If they think they can bring down the airline industry, or the oil industry, then they've been smoking bad granola. Idiots.
Definitely handled well but that woman should be arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
Their social team is great, agreed it was handled well. I also agree with the assessment that, like it or not, the all-economy carriers are not the enemy of climate activists.
While I'd love to fly the Etihad Residence, the truth is carbon emissions per KM, large footprint classes are far more carbon-negative than small ones.
The climate protestors don't realize that they've already lost. Mitigation is the name of the game. Nobody is going to stop flying.
Agreed. I'm long on hydrogen planes, despite how it worked for other hydrogen airborne vehicles in the past. ;-)