Michael O’Leary, Chief Executive of low-cost airline Ryanair, has vowed his airline will “never, ever” fly to or from London Heathrow “while I live and breathe.”
The only time Ryanair aircraft have been seen at Heathrow was in 2010, when British Airways chartered some jets to operate short-haul flights during a cabin crew strike.
The outspoken CEO made the comments during a daily travel podcast for The UK Independent.
During the podcast, Mr O’Leary criticised “the hard Brexit that Johnson and his ship of fools have inflicted on the UK economy” and called for the next Prime Minister to “negotiate a sensible free-trade agreement” with the European Union and strike a deal for free movement of labour.
He said: “…we need those Europeans who are willing to work for the pay that we can afford. The solution to that is not just to increase pay because that just adds to the consumer price inflation challenges over here. Already in the UK, you’re looking at over 18 per cent inflation.”
The government has announced air passenger duty on domestic flights will be halved from April 2023, encouraging a shift from rail to air for journeys within the UK, however Mr O’Leary called for the £13/€15 tax on departures to European Union destinations to be scrapped altogether.
