Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary has hit the headlines for calling a passenger an idiot. According to The Mirror, he has publicly slated Suzy McLeod who recently complained about the airlines’ excess charges on Facebook, calling her an idiot who deserves to pay for her stupidity.
McLeod wrote an angry post last month on the
company’s Facebook page after having to pay £236 to print out boarding passes for her family's return home from Alicante to Bristol. "I had to pay €300 for them to print out a piece of paper," she wrote. "Please 'like' if you think that's unfair." Since then, more than half a million people have clicked their support for the family, generating an internet phenomenon.
But outspoken Irishman O’Leary slammed the “stupidity” of McLeod and insisted he won’t be rethinking the additional charges. Cabin crew working for Ryanair may not thank him for what could prove to be very negative PR for the firm they represent.
It’s reported that the chief executive of
Ryanair launched a foul-mouthed tirade at the 35-year-old saying: “We think Mrs McLeod should pay €60 for being so stupid.
“She wasn’t able to print her boarding card because, as you know, there are no internet cafes in Alicante, no hotels where they could print them out for you, and you couldn’t get to a fax machine so some friend at home can print them and fax them to you.
“She then comes home and gets on Twitter, God help us all, and somehow we are going to change our policies. No we’re not.
“Mother pays £200 for being an idiot and failing to comply with her agreement at the time of booking.
“She wrote to me last week asking for compensation and a gesture of goodwill.
“To which we have replied, politely but firmly, thank you Mrs McLeod but it was your f***-up and if you screw up, you compensate us and you send us a gesture of goodwill.”
Following his tirade, Ms McLeod told the Mirror: “His comments say a lot about his airline. They’re so rude. Why should anyone have to spend their precious time abroad having to find a cafe or a hotel to print out their pass?”
McLeod’s story is echoed by hundreds of other customers on the company's Facebook page, whose "wall" has effectively been hijacked by angry passengers.
Although her post was removed by the company, many other users can be seen calling for it to be put back on.
Mr O'Leary has also waded into the London airport debate, says
The Independent newspaper. He has dismissed the Mayor of London's proposals for a Thames Estuary airport as "Boris's bullshit that he dreamed up in a pub some Friday night". He told The Independent he expected the next runway in south-east England to be built at Stansted.
"Stansted already has planning permission for a second runway," he said. But Carol Barbone, campaign director for Stop Stansted Expansion, said he was mistaken. "We don't have permission for a second runway," she said.
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