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Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has apologized for calling rival airlines “high-fare rapists,” stating that his choice of words caused offense and upset, especially among sexual assault victims. This comes after the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre requested an apology, which O’Leary initially refused to give, defending his language as not trivializing the crime of rape. In a video statement posted on Friday, O'Leary offered a sincere apology, describing his remarks as "careless" and promising to improve in future communications.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-19,
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, issued a video apology on Friday for calling rival airlines "rapists" during a press conference in Dublin last week, after facing criticism from sexual violence victim groups and politicians. He initially used the term to describe high-fare competitors like British Airways and Lufthansa, arguing that rape was "a terrible crime" and not trivialized by his comparison. However, after 10 days of reflection with family and friends, he acknowledged causing "considerable upset and offence." The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) had previously asked for an apology, which O'Leary now offers "sincerely and unreservedly" to survivors and victims of sexual violence.
Written for “Ryanair Boss Apologies For Rapists Co…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has said he is "truly sorry" for describing rival airlines as "high-fare rapists".
asserted
he → publish → rapists
He had previously refused to apologise to a rape crisis centre which criticised him for the comments.
asserted
which → refuse → comments
O'Leary had made the remark earlier this month while talking to journalists ahead of Ryanair's yearly meeting with shareholders.
asserted
O'Leary → make → shareholders
Following the comments, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) wrote to him asking for an apology, in a letter seen by the BBC.
asserted
Centre → follow → BBC
O'Leary had originally said that 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 → say → Europe
He subsequently defended his choice of words when asked by a reporter from the Press Association whether the language was appropriate.
asserted
language → defend → Association
"British Airways, Lufthansa, and everybody else's high fares, I'll happily offend them on a regular basis," he had added.
asserted
he → offend → basis
Asked whether it would offend sexual assault victims, he said rape was "a terrible crime".
asserted
rape → ask → victims
In a video posted on Friday, O'Leary said that, over the last ten days, he had had "conversations with family and friends, both inside and outside Ryanair".
asserted
he → post → Ryanair
"I have come to realise however that the word that I used so carelessly has caused considerable upset and offence to a wide number of people, especially to victims and survivors.
asserted
I → come → victims
"I want to apologise, sincerely and unreservedly, to those people, especially to the survivors."
asserted
I → want → survivors
O'Leary described his choice of language as "careless", and said "it won't happen again".
asserted
it → describe → language
"I will try to learn from this mistake, and do better in future."
asserted
I → try → future
Following O'Leary's first comments, the DRCC's chief executive Rachel Morrogh had written 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 had 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 was not the first time O'Leary had 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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