Watch: Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary takes pie to the face from environmental activists
O’Leary was approached by two women in Brussels, where he is protesting against the impact of French air traffic control strikes on European overflights
Michael O’Leary was left with pie on his face on Thursday, as the Ryanair boss was approached by environmental activists in Brussels who pushed the dessert in his face.
Two women approached O’Leary this morning outside the offices of the European Commission in Belgium, where he was due to hold a press conference to complain about delays and cancellations to overflights over the summer due to French air control strikes.
Footage of the incident showed one of the women shouting: “Welcome en Belgium”, before adding: “Stop the pollution of the fucking planes.”
O’Leary, standing next to a cardboard cutout of Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, quickly removed his jacket and sarcastically called “well done” to his retreating assailants.
According to French media, he then added: ”I have never had such a warm welcome. Unfortunately they were environmentalists and the cream was artificial. I invite passengers to come to Ireland where the cream is better.”
On X (formerly Twitter), Ryanair wrote: “Warm welcome in Brussels today to celebrate Ryanair’s seven new routes for winter 23.
“Passengers so happy with our routes and petition that they’re celebrating with cake. We’ve got tasty low fares!”
A subsequent post on X from the airline read: “Instead of buying cream pies, could have bought a flight from Belgium for the same price.”
O’Leary has for months been complaining about the impact of French air control strikes on flights traversing Europe.
The strikes have heavily impacted European flights, even those that have not been taking off or landing in France but rather passing over French airspace.
This morning, O’Leary called again for the European Commission to take action to ensure that French authorities make sure that overflights are not impacted by the strikes.
He told reporters: “In 2023, there have been a staggering 63 days of air traffic control strikes, a twelvefold increase compared to the previous year.
“These strikes have forced EU airlines to cancel thousands of EU overflights, affecting travellers from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, and Ireland.
“In contrast, France has implemented minimum service laws to protect its domestic and short-haul flights, exacerbating the inconvenience faced by EU passengers.
“EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s inaction has allowed over 1.2 million EU travellers to endure last-minute flight cancellations, even when their flights do not involve France.”
