Michael O'Leary is the infamous and eclectic CEO of low cost carrier Ryanair, which by passengers carried is the largest airline in Europe (low cost or otherwise). Here's a standard image of him at a press conference: Mr. O'Leary has been in the role for a staggering 25 years, which is a huge term for…
Continue reading: Ryanair CEO Changing Roles As Group Restructures
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Easyjet has been absolutely fine, but Ryanair is still a big no-no.
I think that one of O'Leary's biggest outbursts was when he was presenting his plans for long-haul TATL flights in Germany, and the incident with the translator (something about bl*wj*bs, it's still on YouTube). Of course, the LH offer never materialised, but he got lots of attention for it.
Now I'm scared... I bought one leg of Ryanair flight (city pairs and time worked for a month-long family tip in Europe), and it did not seem complicated.
Paid for flight + one checked baggage and my understanding is I get one small cabin bag (like small laptop bag or less). Did not see any complications in terms of baggage policy, what have I missed? It looked no different than buying economy on AA, and if anything, it was obvious from get-go what is included and what is up-charge.
Shareholders were looking for O'Learys head because of the recent poor performance and union issues. After 25 years many institutional investors also felt it was time for him to step down. This role change allows him to deflect those concerns and plan a gradual handover of control. It's a smart move. Plus I imagine there is a major acquisition, merger or investment in the offing. Unencumbered by day to day operational a group CEO can focus on those kind of matters.
That's the first time I've ever seen Ryanair referred to as Ryanair DAC!
And they certainly aren't the only company preparing for Brexit - have you been living under a rock? Off the top of my head, supermarkets, industry the NHS and Army are stockpiling, ferry companies are preparing emergency sailings, easyJet made an EU subsidiary, IAG is making and trying to justify convoluted ownership schemes to allow them to keep BA and Iberia together... Not only is Ryanair not "leading the pack", they aren't even leading the airline industry...
Ryanair is not leading the aviation pack regarding Brexit. They are actually late to the party, just like IAG.
Leading the aviation pack is easyJet who have been preparing for over two years and even acquired an Austrian AOC for their European operations. Furthermore, over 100 aircraft are now flying around with Austrian registrations.
IAG and to a lesser extent, Ryanair, are now waking up to the fact that they're not remotely prepared for Brexit. IAG probably won't be able to prove they're a European airline and if a hard Brexit comes which is they way things may go, they may have serious problems with their traffic rights.
Ryanair won't have as many difficulties as the majority of their flying is intra-European (excluding the UK) and their aircraft are Irish registered. For the amount of intra-UK flying they do, they won't have the hassle that either the well prepared easyJet would have had, or the ill prepared IAG will most likely have.
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The best thing March 29th is going to provide is the chance to give the Brits who comment shade here about the U.S. a taste of their own. Welcome to chaos. And, well, see, you are just as dysfunctional as the rest of us.
Stuart - Rubbish. I despise Brexit but it is not on the same level as electing a proud and open misogynist, sexist,
transphobic, xenophobic, racist scum bag sex offender.
Brexit is going to damage the UK but it will remain a fairly liberal, safe and democratic place. The US will, for the foreseeable future, remain an uncivilised backwater that gives every appearance of being a third world country - just with wealth on top. The fact alone that it's the richest country in the world yet you refuse to provide adequate healthcare to the poor should make you disgusted to call yourself an American. I'm not going to mince my words here - it's a wicked and immoral place and you should be ashamed that you just go along with it.
Stuart - Rubbish. I despise Brexit but it is not on the same level as electing a proud and open misogynist, sexist,
transphobic, xenophobic, racist sex offender.
Brexit is going to damage the UK but it will remain a fairly liberal, safe and democratic place. The US will, for the foreseeable future, remain an uncivilised backwater that gives every appearance of being a third world country - just with wealth on top. The fact alone that it's the richest country in the world yet you refuse to provide adequate healthcare to the poor should make you disgusted to call yourself an American. I'm not going to mince my words here - it's a wicked and immoral place and you should be ashamed that you just go along with it.
Just booked a flight from Treviso to Manchester, no problem whatsoever
paid for the suitcases up front seats and early access
In all the flight cost hundreds less for the same service on Jet2.com
The last Ryanair flight I took was great on a beautiful brand new plane
One of my gloating air passenger prides has been, (is it already 2 decades ago?) to royally screw Ryanair at their own game, travelling round trip between London and Brittany with two suitcases each weighing some 20 kg, and this without spending a penny for the baggage.
I haven't flown with them since and frankly have no desire to use a carrier which makes American look and feel like Qatar Airways.
@Callum. Ah friend, you fail to see that I agree with you. I am just as disgusted with our country as you are with it. The difference is I own it (as many do) and do everything in my power to change it for the better in the many ways you speak of. Meanwhile, it's your group on here that repeatedly judges all Americans for the mistakes of a dysfunctional system that we are trying to make better with repeated snide comments and a "kick your puppy" attitude. You are not so special.
In the meantime you have the disaster awaiting of Brexit. So we are going to laugh back and let you know how it feels. As well, I will laugh at your comment about health care given the thousands of wealthy Brits that jet their way to Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, and Duke (etc.) to avoid the mess of NHS and get prompt and world class surgeons.
Often, the biggest advantage that I find in flying Ryanair is that they fly non-stop to many destinations where other carriers would require a stopover. I feel that they have a monopoly over the non-stop option for many routes. I am curious about whether the changes will change this.
I have found the baggage rules difficult to understand before, and have found it where their middle package included things that their more expensive package did not.
Stuart - No you are not as disgusted as I am, your arrogant gloating proves that. I also highly doubt you're doing everything you can to change it but granted I don't know you. And yes, the UK and the rest of the civilised world certainly is special in comparison to the US. It's a shame that a respect for human well-being is enough to make you special in this world.
Except the NHS is irrefutably not a mess and also has world class surgeons. Your moronic comment, especially given your system that bankrupts people and leaves them to die, says all I need to know about you.
Spoken like a true smug Brit. See you on the other side, friend. Shall we meet on the Northern Ireland border crossing?
Stuart - There's absolutely nothing smug about what I've written. If I was smug then I wouldn't be disgusted by America with a desire for it to change, I'd merely be content with being morally superior.
There's not going to be a border crossing... You're not doing much to challenge the stereotype that Americans are rather dim are you! Not that it's a convenient meeting point for me given I neither live in, not particularly like, the UK.
I think you meant to say NOT, not NOW in context
“he does now allow staff working at Ryanair’s head office in Ireland to charge their mobile phones at their desks because that costs electricity”
Annual subscription of services. Plus "cares" charter for EU261