Ryanair boss offers ‘maths for dummies’ to Spain’s transport minister after calling him a ‘failure’
Calling a government minister a ‘failure’ on camera isn’t exactly how most airlines usually try to keep their routes open. […]
Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary recently called Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente a "failure" in a video posted on August 26, accusing Puente of misrepresenting facts about Ryanair's reduced presence in Spain's regional airports. O'Leary claimed that Ryanair had increased its fleet to 648 aircraft this summer, with a projected 216 million passengers in 2026, while none of the growth is benefiting regional Spain.
He criticized Puente's policies on aviation taxes and airport fees in Spain, comparing them unfavorably to other European countries that have scrapped aviation taxes. Puente responded to the insults by pointing out that Ryanair's cuts are due to delayed deliveries of Boeing's 737 MAX-8200 aircraft and that airport fees in Spain are already among the lowest in Europe.
He also highlighted that Ryanair management received a €100 million bonus last year. The dispute centers around the impact of AENA's 6.62% increase in 2026 airport charges, which Ryanair attributes to the cuts. Ryanair has already closed some bases and canceled routes, redirecting capacity to other regions. The situation remains unresolved, with Puente's ministry yet to address the issue.
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