Ryanair, the World’s most hated airline, have yet again been humiliated in the news this last week with stories about OFT investigations regarding concerns over unfair competition, cabin crew being jailed for sexual assault, its base being pulled from Marseille and a pilot being arrested for drunken and abusive behaviour.
Firstly, Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWLA209120110104) reported that Ryanair is to be subject to investigation by the Office of Fair Trading regarding its stake in Aer Lingus. The airline started to build its 29.8 percent in the rival carrier in 2006. Ryanair has claimed that an inquiry cannot be held within four years, but the OFT said it has been given the go-ahead. “We have considered this issue carefully and it is appropriate and fair to Ryanair to inform them, at this point, that we believe we are ‘in time’ to review the minority stake,” said Sheldon Mills, director of mergers at the OFT. Ryanair said it would appeal the decision, which could lead to a formal Competition Commission probe.
Secondly, the ‘This is Leicestershire’ (http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Vicious-sex-attacker-jailed-15-years/article-3082969-detail/article.html) website reports the shocking story of a Ryanair flight attendant who has been given 15 years for a savage sex attack on woman he walked home after a night out.
Paulius Troninas was sent to a young offenders institute yesterday after being convicted of battering a 31-year-old woman and leaving her with life-threatening injuries in an alleyway in Loughborough. Passing sentence, Judge Michael Stokes QC told the 19-year-old the evidence against him was “overwhelming”.
Thirdly, following our story late last year regarding Ryanair throwing a hissy fit and threatening to leave Marseille after being accused of illegal working practices, the airline has gone ahead and buggered off. Good riddance!
Expatica.com (http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/ryanair-abandons-marseille-base-from-tuesday_122268.html) report that Ryanair will no longer leave any aircraft overnight at Marseille.
Finally, the story in the Herald.ie (http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/hear-the-one-about-the-ryanair-pilot-who-was-arrested-twice-for-being-drunk-and-bit-a-garda-2490337.html) that a Ryanair pilot “tried to bite a garda when he went berserk at a city station after being arrested for hurling a traffic bollard into the street”.
Patrick Taaffe (21) also threatened to “get” another officer “no matter what” after he was arrested for refusing to pay a taxi fare and making insulting remarks about the cabbie’s wife. The Ryanair pilot, who also studied law, was remanded on bail when he admitted a series of public order charges related to two drunken episodes.
We’ll be steering well clear of Ryanair and we suggest you do too. Why not try a proper airline that will actually fly you to the place you think you are flying to, won’t charge you rip-off fees for baggage, using a debit card to pay and checking-in and, furthermore, will treat you with a little respect, something that the stories above demonstrate Ryanair find difficult.
British Airways have a fantastic “Value Calculator” that clearly shows the false economy that is flying with Ryanair. Check it out at: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/value-calculator/public/en_gb
A stewardess from Ryanair, the World’s most hated airline, was injured on Tuesday after falling from the rear door of the aircraft onto the floor some 3 meters below.
