Ryanair boss calls von der Leyen useless and the EP as a “ship of fools”

Michael O’Leary, CEO of the Irish airline Ryanair, has sharply criticized the performance of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU’s economic policy regarding the aviation sector.

 In an interview with the news channel Euronews on October 20, he labeled the Commission President “useless” and accused the bloc’s authorities of making decisions that unjustifiably drive up the cost of air travel.

According to the head of the largest low-cost carrier, the European leadership limits itself to rhetoric about competitiveness without taking any concrete action.

 Michael O’Leary also described the European Parliament as a “ship of fools,” crafting regulations that run counter to the interests of passengers seeking low fares.

"Ursula von der Leyen is afraid to do anything other than talk. You know, she’s useless," the head of Ryanair stated.

O’Leary expressed particular dissatisfaction with environmental levies. He pointed out that current regulations only affect flights within the European Union, while failing to cover carriers from the U.S., Asia, and China. 

The airline executive proposed the introduction of a "fair and reasonable" fee to be applied to every flight arriving in or departing from Europe.

ℹ️ Content Notice: This text is an English translation and factual adaptation of news events, edited for clarity and objective reporting.
Source of information: News Agency e.g., Euronews / TASS / AFP / ANADOLU