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Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary refused to apologize for calling rival airlines "high-fare rapists," defending his choice of words as not trivializing the crime of rape. Following criticism from Ireland's Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and political figures, O'Leary maintained that he would not retract or apologize for his comments, asserting they did not trivialize sexual assault. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between corporate executives and advocacy groups over language use and public responsibility.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, sparked controversy by calling other airlines like Lufthansa and BA "high-fare rapists" during an interview with reporters at Ryanair’s headquarters. When asked if his language was offensive to victims of rape, O'Leary insisted it was appropriate and said he would happily offend the airlines in question again. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) wrote to O'Leary requesting an apology, but he refused to do so. Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris criticized O'Leary for using such inappropriate language. This incident highlights a significant public relations issue for Ryanair and raises questions about the company’s approach to branding and customer relations in a sensitive social context.
Written for “Ryanair Boss Controversial Remarks” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 3 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 10533: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-15
- Published
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has refused to apologise to a rape crisis centre which criticised him for describing rival airlines as "high-fare rapists".
asserted
which → publish → rapists
Speaking to journalists, O'Leary said some people were "desperate to get to Ryanair's low fares because they can't afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe".
asserted
they → speak → Europe
O'Leary doubled-down on his choice of words when asked about them at the time, and later refused to apologise when the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) wrote to him asking for apology, in a letter seen by the BBC.
asserted
Centre → double → BBC
Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris said it was "clearly an inappropriate use of language" and that O'Leary "should have moved to rectify it".
asserted
O'Leary → say → it
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told UK radio outlet LBC that victims of rape are "not going to be rushing to book tickets with him, let's be honest".
asserted
's → tell → him
O'Leary made the comments on Thursday while talking to journalists ahead of Ryanair's yearly meeting with shareholders.
asserted
O'Leary → make → shareholders
Asked by a reporter from the Press Association whether the language was appropriate, he said: "Absolutely."
asserted
he → ask → Association
"British Airways, Lufthansa, and everybody else's high fares, I'll happily offend them on a regular basis," he added.
asserted
he → offend → basis
Asked whether it would offend sexual assault victims, he said rape was "a terrible crime".
asserted
rape → ask → victims
Following O'Leary's comments, the DRCC's chief executive Rachel Morrogh wrote to O'Leary accusing him of trying to get a headline with his comments.
asserted
executive → follow → comments
She said the DRCC had received calls from rape victims who were "upset and distressed because of what you said".
asserted
you → say → what
She offered O'Leary training on the impact of sexual violence and urged him to apologise.
asserted
She → offer → him
"I can't imagine you would ever use the term so flippantly again if you truly understood [what] it was like to survive rape," she wrote.
asserted
she → imagine → rape
In response, O'Leary said: "I am quite clear that no remarks of mine could possibly trivialise the heinous crime of rape."
uncertain
remarks → say → rape
He added that as he had not "trivialised the heinous crime of rape" he would "not be issuing any apology or accepting your offer of training".
asserted
he → add → training
It is not the first time O'Leary has offended people while talking about his business.
asserted
O'Leary → offend → business
In 2004, he reportedly called the owners of Stansted Airport "a bunch of overcharging rapists", external in a row over airport charges.
uncertain
he → call → charges
He has also previously called some of his own staff "lazy bastards" and once said to passengers looking for a refund "we don't want to hear your sob stories".
asserted
we → call → stories
In June, he said the airline would "reluctantly" stop charging parents to sit next to children after a watchdog investigation was opened, but insisted its previous policy complied with laws.
asserted
policy → say → laws
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