Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is condemned for calling other airlines including British Airways and Lufthansa 'rapists'

Published: 14:43 BST, 11 September 2026 | Updated: 14:56 BST, 11 September 2026

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has refused to apologise after being accused of trivialising rape by comparing other airlines to rapists.

The billionaire was heavily criticised by victims' groups and politicians in the UK and Ireland after saying it was 'absolutely' appropriate to make the comparison.

He was urged to offer a 'swift apology' by Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) chief executive Rachel Morrogh, who said he had trivialised rape.

Ms Morrogh had written to Mr O'Leary to offer him free training on sexual violence and the impact it has on people who experienced it.

In a published responding letter today, Mr O'Leary said he had described rape as a 'heinous crime ' when speaking to the media yesterday.

The phrase he used yesterday when asked if his comments were offensive to rape and sexual assault victims was 'terrible crime'.

In the letter today, Mr O'Leary said: 'Since I certainly did not trivialise the heinous crime of rape, I will certainly not be issuing any apology or accepting your offer of training.'

He said comments from the DRCC that his remarks 'perpetuate dismissive attitudes to survivors of rape' were 'both false and defamatory', adding that he 'clearly asserted' that rape is a 'heinous crime' and 'accordingly its survivors are victims of a heinous crime'.

Ms Morrogh previously said she was 'dismayed' at Mr O'Leary's 'lazy and uninformed comments', adding: 'For many survivors of rape, his words will be deeply hurtful and angering to hear.'

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary speaks to reporters before the airline's AGM in Dublin yesterday

Today, the UK's Transport Secretary said Mr O'Leary's comparison to 'rapists' will have lost his company the confidence of women who have been subject to sexual assault.

Heidi Alexander was asked for her thoughts on Mr O'Leary's comments, which have already drawn condemnation from Ireland's deputy premier.

Ms Alexander told LBC: 'I've learnt in this job in the last two years that Mr O'Leary is often quick to share his considered thoughts with me and with the wider world.

'I would say that women who have been raped and who have been subjected to such appalling violence, I'm not sure they're going to be rushing to book tickets with him, let's be honest.'

Mr O'Leary made the comment ahead of his airline's annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday. He claimed rising air travel prices at other airlines would see passengers switch to Ryanair.

He told reporters at the company's headquarters: 'You might find some people will choose not to fly with Ryanair, but you know they'll be overrun with the people abandoning Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, BA, and others desperate to get to Ryanair's low fares because they can't afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe.'

Asked whether this was appropriate language, Mr O'Leary told reporters: 'Absolutely.'

Challenged on whether it was offensive to victims of rape and sexual assault, he said he would 'happily offend' the airlines mentioned.

Further pressed on whether the language was trivialising rape, he said: 'That's what I call high-fare airlines like Lufthansa, BA and others.'

He said rape was a 'terrible crime' but rejected the assertion he was trivialising rape.

Rape Crisis England and Wales chief executive Ciara Bergman said the comparison was 'shameful and embarrassing' as well as 'deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse'.

Michael O'Leary speaks to the media ahead of the annual general meeting in Dublin yesterday

She added: 'I would be more than happy to meet with Mr O'Leary, CEO to CEO, to explain the work Rape Crisis and our members do to challenge the idea that sexual violence is a topic which can or should be trivialised, ever'.

Katie Kempen, the chief executive at Victim Support in England and Wales said the remarks were 'appalling', 'offensive', 'completely unacceptable and deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse'.

Ireland's Public Expenditure Minister and Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers said: 'I think his comments were shocking, and I support what the National Women's Council have said and others in condemning his comments, and he should withdraw them.

'We should never put victims in that light in the context of competition in aviation.'

Ireland's deputy premier Simon Harris said the comments were 'clearly an inappropriate use of language' and Mr O'Leary 'should have moved to rectify it'.

Asked if he should apologise, Mr Harris told reporters at an event for his Fine Gael party: 'I think he should listen to the experts and there's been many out today.'

A spokesman for Fórsa, a union representing Ryanair cabin crew in Ireland, described Mr O'Leary's comments as 'deeply inappropriate'.

Ruth Coppinger, a Socialist Party TD in Ireland, said: 'I think it's disgusting that Michael O'Leary would trivialise rape and sexual assault by bandying around the word 'rapists' in order to get a provocative soundbite and get covered in the media in relation to other airlines.'

Ms Coppinger said Mr O'Leary should 'apologise' and 'withdraw' the remarks.

The National Women's Council of Ireland executive director Corrinne Hasson said the remarks about rape are 'completely inappropriate and deeply offensive to survivors of sexual violence'.

She added: 'Comparing rape to selling airline tickets undermines the experiences and trauma of survivors.

'Flippant comments like this show a lack of understanding about rape culture and form part of the bedrock which allows violence against women to thrive in our society.'

Irish Labour senator Laura Harmon called on the Ryanair chief to engage with the Rape Crisis Centre to better understand the 'horrific trauma of surviving sexual assault'.

She said: 'It is shameful to see O'Leary diminish the real experience of these survivors in such a way.

'Reports conducted by organisations like the National Women's Council of Ireland often detail the systemic challenges victims of domestic violence are faced with when they look for help, through the courts and the legal system, and through first responders like the Gardaí.

'Having O'Leary make such ignorant comments only adds to this. I would urge him to come out and apologise today, and commit to informing himself about the real trauma of sexual violence.'