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Ryanair boss in Brussels...

2

Comments

  • #32
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    CricketDude wrote: »
    All true.
    Unless you work for them though.

    Nobody is forcing anyone to work for Ryanair. They can leave if they want to. I would say most are glad of the jobs.


  • #33
    Amirani
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,622 Mod ✭✭✭✭Amirani


    tayto lover wrote: »
    he is only successful because the other airlines are too stupid to lower their flights. If they did so he would be out of business and if they went out of business he wouldn't be long raising his own prices then.

    Other airlines can't afford to lower their prices to compete with Ryanair because they insist on providing ridiculous services people don't want. I don't want a free check in bag or food/drink or to have a chat to a person checking me in. I want flying to be as close as possible to hopping on a fecking bus. I'd fly with Ryanair ahead of any of the other big European airlines even if fares were the same.


  • #34
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    NiallSparky wrote: »
    I'd fly with Ryanair ahead of any of the other big European airlines even if fares were the same.

    statistically I think Ryanair are the most punctual too.

    They are a great airline.


  • #35
    Fuhrer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,661 ✭✭✭Fuhrer


    K-9 wrote: »
    No, coming out with childish comments like "no innovative ideas came out of Brussels since 1922" is pretty trollish, actually AH would have better attention seeking trolls.

    Its also pretty thick as his company wouldn't be anywhere near the size it is without Commission deregulation in the 80's.

    Plus its Michael O'Leary. Nuff said.


    Jesus Christ, what a load of horse****.

    So, the commission rolled back a mistake they made and suddenly they're fantastic?


  • #36
    therecklessone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,213 ✭✭✭✭therecklessone


    Fuhrer wrote: »
    Jesus Christ, what a load of horse****.

    So, the commission rolled back a mistake they made and suddenly they're fantastic?

    European deregulation was aimed at correcting the mistakes made by national governments so in this case they did his employer (among many others) a great service.

    The competition that Mr O'Leary loves to talk about is assured by measures enacted and assured from Brussels. Sometimes those measures stymie his attempts to corner the market (as in their opposition to his takeover of Aer Lingus). I would also imagine he is less than happy with their attention focused on his use of regional subsidies to supplement his profitable airline, and his rather novel interpretation of many European directives on employment rights.


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  • #37
    K-9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,305 ✭✭✭✭K-9


    therecklessone wrote: »
    European deregulation was aimed at correcting the mistakes made by national governments so in this case they did his employer (among many others) a great service.

    The competition that Mr O'Leary loves to talk about is assured by measures enacted and assured from Brussels. Sometimes those measures stymie his attempts to corner the market (as in their opposition to his takeover of Aer Lingus). I would also imagine he is less than happy with their attention focused on his use of regional subsidies to supplement his profitable airline, and his rather novel interpretation of many European directives on employment rights.

    He doesn't mind when the Commission interferes for his own good, competition is good, hates when they interfere with his pay outs from airports for his own benefit, competition is bad.

    Mad Men's Don Draper : What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons.



  • #38
    Manic Moran
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,908 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    NiallSparky wrote: »
    Other airlines can't afford to lower their prices to compete with Ryanair because they insist on providing ridiculous services people don't want. I don't want a free check in bag or food/drink or to have a chat to a person checking me in. I want flying to be as close as possible to hopping on a fecking bus. I'd fly with Ryanair ahead of any of the other big European airlines even if fares were the same.

    That doesn't necessarily follow: Pretty much the cheapest airline in the US is SouthWest. They also are about the only airline I can think of which has no fees for a checked bag, to change a flight, to get a soft drink....

    The reason they're able to do it is, quite simply, they're better managed than the competition.

    NTM


  • #39
    The_Thing
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭The_Thing


    Freddie59 wrote: »
    But is it arrogance - or reality?.....

    I think it's arrogance - his was the only European airline who tried to wriggle out of its legally binding commitments to passengers stranded due to the ash from the Icelandic volcanoes. He had every intention of breaking this law until he was forced to backtrack by the EU.


  • #40
    The_B_Man
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,027 ✭✭✭The_B_Man
    Something about sandwiches


    Inda Kenny vs MOL - Fight to the death.
    Winner gets to run the country!


  • #41
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    The_B_Man wrote: »
    Inda Kenny vs MOL - Fight to the death.
    Winner gets to run the country!

    After 5 years we'd be running the world if we had someone like O'Leary.

    Interesting piece in Sundays Indo :
    MICHAEL O'Leary was offered free flights by the European Commission to address a conference in Brussels -- but the offer was withdrawn when he told them he would be flying Ryanair.



    "We got an email back saying, 'I'm sorry but the Commission can't pay for a Ryanair flight because there is a ban on low-fare flights within the Commission'," revealed the Ryanair boss this week.
    But he went anyway and, describing himself as "a Brussels virgin", the millionaire businessman told the conference on innovation that he was offered free flights, a limo and a hotel room.
    "You work in the Commission and pay higher prices by law because, let's face it, the European taxpayer is going to pay for it anyway," he said.
    "The European Union spends most of its time either suing me, torturing me, criticising me or condemning me for lowering the cost of air travel all over Europe and making life really difficult for their favourite airlines."
    He went on to describe Brussels as the "evil empire" -- despite the fact that he was there as a guest of the European Commission.
    He told the young entrepreneurs present to "get the hell out of Brussels as quickly as you can or any streak of innovation and intelligence will be beaten out of you by Brussels".
    The airline tycoon's attack on the Commission was met with a mixture of laughter and open mouths.
    He went on to tell his audience: "Any hint of innovation is left at the door when you walk in to become politicians and bureaucrats.
    "A conference on innovation is so important because, if you look at the mess that Europe is in... there's only one way out of it -- and it's not going to be a summit of European politicians.
    "It's certainly not going to be a conference held in Brussels, where the last innovative idea came in 1922. Innovation is going to be the way for the European economy to grow, to develop, to create new jobs and that's the way out of the mess we are in."
    He told the young entrepreneurs he was nervous that they were brought to Brussels where their "innovative spark might be dulled" by long lunches and sleepy afternoons.
    He also made the rare move of speaking about his wife, Anita, when discussing his airline's policy of baggage fares, saying even she was having difficulty keeping within Ryanair's rules for travelling.
    Defending the high cost of checking a bag in, he said: "We don't want your money, we just don't want your bloody checked-in bag.
    "You need to get into the discipline, unlike my wife, who is incapable of getting into the discipline of travelling with one bag; she needs three."


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  • #42
    ThePower11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 553 ✭✭✭ThePower11


    The_B_Man wrote: »
    Inda Kenny vs MOL - Fight to the death.
    Winner gets to ruin the country!
    FYP


  • #43
    blarney_boy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 128 ✭✭blarney_boy


    I think Michael O Leary talks a lot of sense and his company Ryanair is very successful BUT he can over do the rhetoric at times, I thought he was bordering on outright rudeness/ignorance at some points in the presentation.

    The diplomatic skills of the conference chairman were excellent however, he never once rose to Michaels baiting and was even able get in a subtle dig about him getting up on his high horse at one point.

    The most salient point Michale O Leary made in the whole presentation is that air traffic control has yet to be de-regulated in Europe, is currently responsible for 96% of delays and constitutes 20% of an airline's ticket price.


  • #44
    ThePower11
    Closed Accounts Posts: 553 ✭✭✭ThePower11


    Is there any Boardsie's that have or are working for Ryanair? It'd be interesting to hear what frontline staff have to say about there employers.

    I can't imagine the salaries are over generous.


  • #45
    Dirk Gently
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,779 ✭✭✭Dirk Gently


    Does this mean Antonio Tajani failed to accept his attempted bribe? I'm sure if they give him more tax breaks he'll stick a few more european flags on his planes again.
    Michael O Leary wrote:
    Without Europe, there would be no open-skies, no low-fares industry and Ireland would have absolutely no future," he said.


  • #46
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    ThePower11 wrote: »
    Is there any Boardsie's that have or are working for Ryanair? It'd be interesting to hear what frontline staff have to say about there employers.

    I can't imagine the salaries are over generous.
    many Irish people whinge about their salaries.

    Our public service pay at an average of over 48k a year is one of the highest in the world - and yet they whinge. Our social welfare is one of the highest in the world - and yet they whinge. Our minimum wage is one of the highest in the world - and yet they whinge. Never met any Ryanair staff whinging though.


  • #47
    Freddie59
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,679 ✭✭✭Freddie59


    The_Thing wrote: »
    I think it's arrogance - his was the only European airline who tried to wriggle out of its legally binding commitments to passengers stranded due to the ash from the Icelandic volcanoes. He had every intention of breaking this law until he was forced to backtrack by the EU.

    I find it incredible that I'm even DEFENDING Ryanair.:D But surely the other airlines are similarly guilty of other offences?


  • #48
    MyKeyG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭MyKeyG


    He can be an arrogant creep all he wants as long as he keeps sending me to Europe for ten quid!!!


  • #49
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    MyKeyG wrote: »
    He can be an arrogant creep all he wants as long as he keeps sending me to Europe for ten quid!!!

    He is only arrogant against those that deserve to be. If he was always Mr. Nicey, Ryanair would not have grown to 1% of what it is, and air fares would still be a few hundred Irish Pounds ( the equiv in euro ) to go to England, like it was 30 years ago when Air Lingus was doing it.


  • #50
    donutface
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 461 ✭✭donutface


    ThePower11 wrote: »
    Is there any Boardsie's that have or are working for Ryanair? It'd be interesting to hear what frontline staff have to say about there employers.

    I can't imagine the salaries are over generous.


    I know one Ryanair air hostess very well. The main complaint is the workload (4-6 flights a day with a 20 minute turnaround to clear out the plane and what not).

    Also huge pressure on selling newspapers and its quite difficult on certain routes that are less than a half an hour.

    No real complaints about money, but not a company I'd go and work for personally.


  • #51
    keithclancy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,157 ✭✭✭keithclancy


    I'd say it was more a case of the travel policy only allowing flex fares, which low cost airlines don't offer.


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  • #52
    tayto lover
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 57,077 ✭✭✭✭tayto lover


    gigino wrote: »
    many Irish people whinge about their salaries.

    Our public service pay at an average of over 48k a year is one of the highest in the world - and yet they whinge. Our social welfare is one of the highest in the world - and yet they whinge. Our minimum wage is one of the highest in the world - and yet they whinge. Never met any Ryanair staff whinging though.

    Don';t know where you have been hiding because I have met some Ryanair staff who always complained and were seeking alternative employment at the time.


  • #53
    srsly78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,156 ✭✭✭srsly78


    ThePower11 wrote: »
    Is there any Boardsie's that have or are working for Ryanair? It'd be interesting to hear what frontline staff have to say about there employers.

    I can't imagine the salaries are over generous.

    I have a housemate that is a Ryanair pilot. His first pilot job, he's been there 2 years now. I was surprised to hear that Ryanair pilots have better pay and conditions than most regional competitors. Not as good as the likes of Emirates tho (tax-free), where I hear all pilots want to end up :)


  • #54
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    srsly78 wrote: »
    I was surprised to hear that Ryanair pilots have better pay and conditions than most regional competitors.

    I remember reading that too, but did not know if it was true.

    I know people are expected to muck in if a job needs doing ; Michael O'Leary has been seen checking people on to a plane before he boarded himself to catch a flight somewhere.


  • #55
    Hobbes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,264 ✭✭✭✭Hobbes


    Ryanair boss likes to be controversial for the sake of it.

    It isn't really a low cost airline either, it just hides all the charges within the page. So a flight for 9 euros suddenly changes to 50 euros and then only if you don't plan to bring anything with you, and don't mind landing at an airport that will cost you another 50 euros to get to where you actually want to go.


  • #56
    MyKeyG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,282 ✭✭✭MyKeyG


    Hobbes wrote: »
    Ryanair boss likes to be controversial for the sake of it.

    It isn't really a low cost airline either, it just hides all the charges within the page. So a flight for 9 euros suddenly changes to 50 euros and then only if you don't plan to bring anything with you, and don't mind landing at an airport that will cost you another 50 euros to get to where you actually want to go.
    People only get charged extra when they insist on being late for check-in even though they can do it on-line or they have excess baggage which unless you've been living under a rock for most of your life you know Ryanair will ping you for.

    The furthest I've had to travel having taken a Ryanir flight was Charleroi to Brussels 40 min shuttle bus and Prestwick to Glasgow 45 mins by train. An extra €50 to get from the airport to your destination is the most obvious nonsense I've ever heard. Incidentally I find it unusual that people use the 'miles away airport' judgement when our own capitals primary airport isn't exactly up the road.


  • #57
    gigino
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,350 ✭✭✭gigino


    Hobbes wrote: »
    Ryanair boss likes to be controversial for the sake of it.
    its for the sake of cheap free publicity. Plus he happens to be telling the truth, which helps. Great advertising.
    Hobbes wrote: »
    It isn't really a low cost airline either, it just hides all the charges within the page. So a flight for 9 euros suddenly changes to 50 euros and then only if you don't plan to bring anything with you, and don't mind landing at an airport that will cost you another 50 euros to get to where you actually want to go.

    It is a low cost airline. You should have travelled to England 30 years ago, before Ryanair. It was 200 pounds then, and to put it in context some people worked for 1.50 an hour. A Pint was about a pound, or less. 200 was a lot of money. The plane still landed at Heathrow, you still had to get to London. When Ryanair started flying to Luton, Luton is virtually as convenient.
    9 euro or 50 euro, its still cheap. One hours work for many people. Cop yourself on. Plus its not subsidised by the taxpayer, like CIE is. And CIE fares are higher per mile.;)


  • #58
    RichieC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,331 ✭✭✭RichieC


    Id say most ryanairs bad name is from the BBC crucifixion..


  • #59
    K-9
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,305 ✭✭✭✭K-9


    MyKeyG wrote: »
    The furthest I've had to travel having taken a Ryanir flight was Charleroi to Brussels 40 min shuttle bus and Prestwick to Glasgow 45 mins by train. An extra €50 to get from the airport to your destination is the most obvious nonsense I've ever heard. Incidentally I find it unusual that people use the 'miles away airport' judgement when our own capitals primary airport isn't exactly up the road.

    Well there isn't any alternative with Dublin! They usually have the furthest away airport, most have good transport links so it isn't a big deal but I find Aer Lingus or other alternatives often are just as cheap or very close, and you've a more convenient location as well.

    Ryanair get big incentives to go to the more obscure airports so they don't care.

    Mad Men's Don Draper : What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons.



  • #60
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,496 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    gigino wrote: »
    A great man, and a great company. Ryanair are a great success story internationally and we can be proud it came out of Ireland.

    Why exactly should the whole nation get to share the pride of the achievements of one man?


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  • #61
    Cherry_Cola
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,989 ✭✭✭Cherry_Cola


    I honestly don't know how people can complain about Ryanair. Once you play by their rules then you should have no problems at all.

    A few years back I managed to get a return flight to London in one of their sales for 2c. 2 fecking cents. No taxes or charges at the time either. Made it cheaper for me to go to London for a gig than take a trip to Dublin.

    Yes he is sensationalist in the news etc but it garners them free publicity which in turn ensures that we can continue to enjoy cheap flights.


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