Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has formally refused to apologize for describing rival airlines as “high-fare rapists,” rejecting claims from advocates and government officials that his language trivializes sexual violence.
The controversy stems from a press conference held in Dublin on Thursday, September 10, 2026, where O’Leary used the slur to characterize the pricing structures of Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, and British Airways. Despite a swift backlash from survivors’ groups and senior politicians in Ireland and the UK, O’Leary maintained that his remarks were directed solely at the business practices of his competitors.
In a formal letter sent on Friday, September 11, to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, O’Leary denied he was trivializing sexual violence and explicitly rejected the assertion that his business metaphor was inappropriate. He stated he would “happily offend” the airlines mentioned and denied that the comparison contributed to the normalization of sexual assault.
Rachel Morrogh, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, had previously reached out to the Ryanair chief to express concern that such language contributes to the trivializing of sexual violence. Morrogh offered to provide O’Leary with training on the impact of sexual violence, an offer he declined.
The diplomatic fallout reached high levels of government in both Dublin and London. Irish Tánaiste Simon Harris described the language as “inappropriate” and urged O’Leary to “rectify it.” In the UK, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander criticized the remarks, suggesting that survivors of sexual assault would not be “rushing to book tickets” with an airline whose leadership uses such terminology.
The remarks coincided with Ryanair’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and a period of heightened scrutiny for the carrier.
Despite the pressure, O’Leary has shown no intention of retracting the statement. According to The Independent, he insisted that his language was “absolutely” appropriate in the context of criticizing the high costs imposed by traditional flag carriers.
This latest episode adds to a long history of provocative public statements by O’Leary, who has frequently used aggressive rhetoric to differentiate Ryanair’s low-cost model from its more expensive rivals.
