Market Talk: Strikes aren’t all bad for O’Leary

As Ryanair holds its agm this month, industrial strife is likely to distract from serious questions about the durability of the airline’s business model

Boeing 737 Max jets have been grounded worldwide since two fatal crashes. Ryanair had ordered hundreds of the aircraft Picture: David Ryder/Getty

What tricks will Michael O’Leary have up his sleeve to distract attention before Ryanair’s annual general meeting this month?

Last year, the media, including myself, fell for the ruse that we would be banned from attending the shareholders’ meeting for the first time. Always the PR master, O’Leary managed to divert the media away from reporting on the industrial relations issues and a sizeable investor opposition to the re-election of David Bonderman, the ...