{
  "id": 6571615,
  "title": "O'Leary doubles down on comparing competitors to rapists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/oleary-doubles-down-on-comparing-competitors-to-rapists",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T10:13:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0910/1591027-ryanair-oleary-comments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary has defended his recent comparison of rival airlines to rapists. Speaking ahead of his company's annual general meeting in Dublin, O'Leary argued that the high prices of other airlines would drive passengers to choose Ryanair instead. He told reporters that while some might avoid flying with Ryanair, many would abandon the \"high-fare rapists\" such as Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, British Airways, and other carriers struggling to compete with Ryanair's low fares.\n\nWhen asked if this language was appropriate, O'Leary responded with a resounding \"Absolutely.\" He doubled down on his comments, saying he would happily offend the airlines he criticized. When challenged on the offensive nature of his remarks and whether they trivialized the suffering of rape and sexual assault victims, O'Leary defended his choice of words, stating that he was merely referring to the exorbitant fares charged by those high-fare airlines.",
  "summary": "Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has said it is \"absolutely\" appropriate to compare other airlines to \"rapists\".",
  "key_points": [
    "Ryanair CEO Michael O Leary defended comparing rival airlines to rapists.",
    "He argued high prices of competitors drive passengers to choose Ryanair.",
    "O Leary doubled down, stating he would happily offend criticized airlines."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Michael O Leary's defense of his comments equates criticism with offense, implying that reputational damage to airlines is more concerning than the potential distress caused to rape and assault victims.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}