Ryanair boss apologises for calling competitors ‘rapists’

Irish budget airline Ryanair’s chief has apologised to sexual violence survivors for comparing competing airlines to “rapists” in comments that he acknowledged caused “considerable upset and offence”.

Michael O’Leary “sincerely and unreservedly” apologised in an online video for last week describing Ryanair’s competitors as rapists for their high fares.

“I have come to realise, however, that the word I used so carelessly has caused considerable upset and offence to a wide number of people, especially victims and survivors,” O’Leary said.

He had previously fuelled the controversy by refusing to apologise and saying his comparison was “absolutely” appropriate.

“Since I certainly did not trivialise the heinous crime of rape, I will certainly not be issuing any apology,” he said last week in response to criticism from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.