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Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary Refuses Apology After High-Fare Rapists Comment Sparks Outrage
On Thursday, 10 September 2026, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary told reporters in Dublin that rival airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa were “high‑fare rapists.” The remark was made ahead of the airline’s annual general meeting and was immediately condemned by a range of stakeholders.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) sent a formal letter to O’Leary demanding an apology. The letter, seen by the BBC, said the centre’s chief executive, Rachel Morrogh, had received calls from survivors who were upset by the comments. Morrogh offered O’Leary training on the impact of sexual violence and urged him to apologise. O’Leary replied that he had not trivialised rape and would not issue an apology.
Irish deputy premier Simon Harris described the language as “clearly inappropriate” and said O’Leary should have rectified it. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told radio station LBC that victims of rape would not be rushing to book flights with Ryanair, adding that the comments were offensive.
O’Leary’s comments were part of a briefing ahead of Ryanair’s AGM, which took place at the Ryanair Trident Building in Swords, County Dublin, on 10 September. The meeting was attended by shareholders and staff and followed the release of the company’s annual report. Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe by passenger numbers, has long relied on a low‑fare, no‑frills model that generates a significant portion of its revenue from ancillary services.
The CEO’s refusal to apologise is not the first time he has attracted criticism for his choice of words. In 2004 he described the owners of Stansted Airport as “a bunch of overcharging rapists.” He has also referred to staff as “lazy bastards” and dismissed passenger refund requests as “sob stories.” In June, Ryanair announced it would “reluctantly” stop charging parents for the right to sit next to children after a watchdog investigation, while insisting its earlier policy complied with the law.
The controversy has drawn attention to the broader issue of how airline executives communicate with the public. O’Leary’s statement that “rape is a terrible crime” was followed by an admission that he considered the comparison of rival airlines to rapists “absolutely” appropriate. The remarks have been widely described as callous and re‑traumatising by survivors’ advocates.
The DRCC’s letter also highlighted that the centre had received calls from rape survivors who felt distressed by O’Leary’s remarks. Morrogh’s offer of training was rejected, with O’Leary stating that he would not accept it because he believed his comments did not trivialise the crime.
The incident has not yet triggered any regulatory action. No formal complaint has been filed with the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Irish government has not announced an investigation. However, the public backlash and the statements from political leaders suggest that the issue may be monitored closely by authorities.
Ryanair’s shareholders approved all resolutions at the AGM, including the final dividend and the election of directors, with unanimous support. The company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025 were released earlier in the week, showing continued growth in ticket sales and ancillary revenue.
The controversy surrounding O’Leary’s comments is likely to remain in the public eye until the next earnings call, scheduled for early October. Investors and analysts will be watching to see whether the incident affects Ryanair’s brand perception or customer loyalty, particularly among price‑sensitive travelers.
In the meantime, the DRCC has reiterated its commitment to supporting survivors, while political leaders in Ireland and the UK have called for greater sensitivity from public figures. The incident underscores the importance of careful communication in the airline industry, where public perception can quickly shift.
The situation remains unresolved, with no apology issued and no formal investigation announced. The next significant development will likely come from Ryanair’s upcoming earnings report and any statements from the company’s leadership regarding the incident.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) sent a formal letter to O’Leary demanding an apology. The letter, seen by the BBC, said the centre’s chief executive, Rachel Morrogh, had received calls from survivors who were upset by the comments. Morrogh offered O’Leary training on the impact of sexual violence and urged him to apologise. O’Leary replied that he had not trivialised rape and would not issue an apology.
Irish deputy premier Simon Harris described the language as “clearly inappropriate” and said O’Leary should have rectified it. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told radio station LBC that victims of rape would not be rushing to book flights with Ryanair, adding that the comments were offensive.
O’Leary’s comments were part of a briefing ahead of Ryanair’s AGM, which took place at the Ryanair Trident Building in Swords, County Dublin, on 10 September. The meeting was attended by shareholders and staff and followed the release of the company’s annual report. Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe by passenger numbers, has long relied on a low‑fare, no‑frills model that generates a significant portion of its revenue from ancillary services.
The CEO’s refusal to apologise is not the first time he has attracted criticism for his choice of words. In 2004 he described the owners of Stansted Airport as “a bunch of overcharging rapists.” He has also referred to staff as “lazy bastards” and dismissed passenger refund requests as “sob stories.” In June, Ryanair announced it would “reluctantly” stop charging parents for the right to sit next to children after a watchdog investigation, while insisting its earlier policy complied with the law.
The controversy has drawn attention to the broader issue of how airline executives communicate with the public. O’Leary’s statement that “rape is a terrible crime” was followed by an admission that he considered the comparison of rival airlines to rapists “absolutely” appropriate. The remarks have been widely described as callous and re‑traumatising by survivors’ advocates.
The DRCC’s letter also highlighted that the centre had received calls from rape survivors who felt distressed by O’Leary’s remarks. Morrogh’s offer of training was rejected, with O’Leary stating that he would not accept it because he believed his comments did not trivialise the crime.
The incident has not yet triggered any regulatory action. No formal complaint has been filed with the Civil Aviation Authority, and the Irish government has not announced an investigation. However, the public backlash and the statements from political leaders suggest that the issue may be monitored closely by authorities.
Ryanair’s shareholders approved all resolutions at the AGM, including the final dividend and the election of directors, with unanimous support. The company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025 were released earlier in the week, showing continued growth in ticket sales and ancillary revenue.
The controversy surrounding O’Leary’s comments is likely to remain in the public eye until the next earnings call, scheduled for early October. Investors and analysts will be watching to see whether the incident affects Ryanair’s brand perception or customer loyalty, particularly among price‑sensitive travelers.
In the meantime, the DRCC has reiterated its commitment to supporting survivors, while political leaders in Ireland and the UK have called for greater sensitivity from public figures. The incident underscores the importance of careful communication in the airline industry, where public perception can quickly shift.
The situation remains unresolved, with no apology issued and no formal investigation announced. The next significant development will likely come from Ryanair’s upcoming earnings report and any statements from the company’s leadership regarding the incident.
