Why This Hated Airline CEO Could Get A $100M Bonus

Ryanair is on track to compete with Delta to become the world’s biggest airline, yet its ticket prices are some of the lowest in the industry. How has Ryanair's low-cost business model become so profitable while pissing off its customers?

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[Kni]

at least he is honest and not trying to hide stuff under corporate bluff

[letslanaway]

The reality is that without budget airlines, less well off people would be able to fly and go on vacation less. There's nothing wrong with a cheap, no-frills airline and if you don't like them, don't fly them - that's how competition works.

[givemeabreak]

Michael is a legend may sound controversial but he wants people to fly cheaper and more frequent rather than expensive. They took it from context on this interview. He was talking about a flight between Ireland and Uk wich is about twenty minutes not flying long distance standing up or eliminate a toilet to add two more seats. He was talking about a very short flight. Michael is a champion of cheap flights and Ryanair is the biggest company in Europe and recently he has critical to constant increase in airport taxes which force increase in fares.

[Thewanderers]

The reality is that unlike a lot of bs fares on other airlines, Ryanair's base fare is actually cheap. Once I've added the extras I want, it's still cheap. It's not like when I fly at home, and a super-ultra-basic on Westjet gets basically the same thing as Ryanair, but costs several hundred dollars for each leg, paying maybe $80 less than the flex fare.

[hughgoddard]

I've used ryanair a lot, and don't have a problem with it. Everybody knows what it's like, but we still use it because it's really cheap. It's a miracle that they can do a flight for £30, so what do you expect?

[bundnar]

I just want to add three things.
1. Literally every European budget airline has copied big parts of their business model (letting you pay for everything etc.). So, the service from ryanair is similar to all other cheap airlines.
2. Ryanair has less delays then other airlines, which is a really important of the service for me.
3. These guys always fly. For example there was a big airport strike in Germany. Every airline but ryanair canceled their flights. Ryanair redirected them to other airports.

[jimmyryan]

Ryanair isnt that extreme. They spread rumours like standing up themselves as free advertising. Its a reliable, cheap bus that flies. It has the same safety regulations as every other EU airline.

[elismith]

Obviously there are downsides to Ryanair, but personally it’s allowed me to travel much more than I would’ve been able to otherwise. I just don’t buy any of the crap on board and I’m fine being a little uncomfortable if it means I save money

[MarkGovern]

He is not hated. He has brought affordable travel to millions of people all over Europe and has built one of the most successful airlines in the world. He is not crazy either.

[moomie]

If you want great customer experience, you pay the extra for something extra. Ryanair is cutthroat cheap because it allows them to sell more. People acting like they don't care about their customers are wrong. They care that you pay as little as possible to fly. The whole standing and using the bathroom things are taken out of context. The CEO explained that standing would literally cost a dollar, and being able to fly around Europe for just a dollar is a steal. The bathroom thing was just trying to get space for more people, and more dollars. If the airline gets more dollars, they almost always pass that onto customers.

Ryanair has done an extremely good job of always keeping their prices as low as possible. That's their goal. You don't go to the dollar store and complain about quality. You pay low, you get low.

[letslanaway]

1:53 except they're not free. They're included in the price of your ticket, but paying check-in staff and paying for a booth at the check-in all costs money. You're paying for them with your higher ticket price, it's wrong to consider them 'free'.

[mad]

6:08 airmalta is the national airline of malta (island EU country), not be confused with malta air, a ryanair subsidary. It is at the top of the wikipedia page for malta air

[mavlod]

This man is not hated, he's hated by news/media companies to create headlines, but consumers love him because he is honest in the cheap reality of the airline. Do better morning brew.

[thealienknight]

Okay, this is actually kinda reasonable. You're buying a cheaper ticket, you're going to get less luxury. But also, some of the things RyanAir is doing with how they map out flights is really smart

[kdziolak]

Ryanair had the best bounce back from covid of all the airlines. They fixed their schedules, kept the prices really affordable and made sure that flights are ALWAYS on time (or even before). Well, unless some entitled a** wants to prove the crew that their precious luggage that was tagged for the cargo bay will most definitely fit in the overhead locker.

European tourism industry has so much to be grateful for to Ryanair.

[briangasser]

If you pay McDonalds prices, dont expect steakhouse quality. Buying a ticket on a ULCC gets you a seat and a seatbelt, that's it. If you are OK with that, Ryanair operates relatively on time and new planes.

[GrandPoivron]

An important note is that Ryanair is covered by EU law which is highly protective of consumers. Even if you know Ryanair is going to try to squeeze money out of you, you know you've got solid consumer protection and it won't be "too bad". So it's easier to trust them.

[aayushijain]

for all the people going that this service is unacceptable, what actually is unacceptable is working class people not being able to afford to see their loved ones.

[mm]

I sometimes fly around Europe one way for only £9.99. How could I ever be unhappy.

[katherinelangford]

Oh they're just in Europe. Ok now i get why ppl pick it. Short flights you dont need water, or super comfy seats, or multiple bathrooms. Their average flight is 981km is which says about 2 hours. I'd take a no frills flight for a significant savings. I can drive 981km and still be in my same province let alone country.