Criticism of taxes
Ryanair boss insults German politicians
Updated on November 29, 2024Reading time: 3 min.
Ryanair Michael O’leary speaks of bullshit politics and rails against German taxes on flights. Due to low returns, he announced cuts to the flight schedule.
The head of the low-cost airline Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has massively criticized German politicians. The airline boss, who is known for his pithy sayings, attacked the outgoing federal government harshly in an interview. He called it a “government of idiots.” In an interview with German journalists, he accused the Greens of “only having bullshit solutions,” as the “Berliner Zeitung” reports. He has no hope of enhancement: “I don’t think the next federal government will be better,” he is quoted as saying. Germany is “fucked” for the next few years, which is probably the best way to translate the “fucked” he uses.
O’leary had asked for an interview at the Irish company headquarters in Dublin and initially praised German beer and the successes of the german footballers against England.When it came to aviation,however,the tone quickly became harsher. Germany has one of the “shittiest aviation markets in Europe,” complained the 63-year-old, according to the “Berliner Zeitung”. He also used fecal language in his assessment of German air traffic control and taxes on flights.
the head of the low-cost airline sees what he sees as high taxes and fees as a reason why the market for flights in Germany has not recovered after Corona. He calculated that the taxes would be 58 euros per passenger. germans fly less than Italians, for example, and German airports have fewer passengers than others in Europe. “As an access point to the capital of Europe’s largest economy, BER is dysfunctional,” said Ryanair co-CEO Eddie Wilson, according to the newspaper. His colleague O’Leary calls it a regional airport.
He is not completely alone in this. According to the new Institute for Air Transport in Hamburg, Germany is making slower progress than other countries in recovering air traffic after the corona pandemic. “Global air traffic is gradually recovering to pre-Corona levels,but Germany is lagging behind,especially when it comes to decentralized connections,” said the institute’s acting director,Florian Linke.
The delay is probably the result of high location costs and low economic growth. “This reduces the attractiveness for low-cost airlines and poses challenges for the development of regional airports,” said Linke.
According to the boss, Ryanair intends to use 300 new aircraft in the coming years, but probably hardly in Germany.The returns are too low for that. He doesn’t want to leave the market completely. But the company has already announced at the end of March that it will withdraw from Dortmund, Dresden and Halle/Leipzig airports and plans to reduce capacity at other locations. And O’Leary also announced for the 2025 summer flight schedule: “We will continue to make cuts.”
But Germany is not the only country on O’Leary’s list. Ryanair has threatened to stop flying to ten French airports from next year amid plans to significantly increase taxes on airline tickets in France. Ryanair expects to “cut capacity to and from French regional airports by up to 50 percent from January 2025 if the French government pursues its short-sighted plan to triple the passenger tax,” Ryanair commercial director Jason McGuinness said on Wednesday.
And there is also bad news from the Italian market, which was praised by the airline boss. There, the airline has to reimburse thousands of passengers for the additional fees they charged for checking in at the airport. The Italian competition authority AGCM announced on Thursday that Ryanair had “not adequately” informed its customers about this additional fee. the airline charged 55 euros if passengers had not checked in online within a deadline set by Ryanair and had to do so at the airport.
What are the implications of Ryanair’s CEO’s criticism on the future of the aviation industry in Germany?
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone! Today, we have a special guest, aviation industry expert Dr. Emma Shields, to discuss the recent outburst from Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, regarding German taxes and politics. Dr. Shields, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Emma Shields: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to delve into this rather provocative topic.
Time.news Editor: O’Leary has never been one to hold back his opinions, but his recent comments about the german government seem particularly pointed. He referred to it as a “government of idiots” and criticized their policies as offering “bullshit solutions.” What are your thoughts on his approach?
dr. emma shields: O’Leary’s bluntness is certainly part of his brand. He thrives on controversy and uses it to draw attention to issues he feels are critical. While his comments may seem harsh, they do reflect genuine frustrations in the aviation industry regarding regulatory burdens, particularly in Germany.
Time.news Editor: He has a point about the high taxes on flights in Germany, which he claims contribute to low returns for airlines. How do these taxes impact the airline industry as a whole?
Dr.Emma Shields: High taxes on flights can disincentivize both airlines and customers. For airlines, it can shrink profit margins, making it tough to sustain competitive pricing. For consumers, it frequently enough translates into higher ticket prices, which can limit air travel accessibility. O’Leary’s concern is that these taxes could lead to operational cuts, as he hinted in this interview.
Time.news Editor: Indeed, he mentioned potential cuts to the flight schedule due to low returns. Do you think this could have a meaningful impact on travelers in Germany?
Dr. Emma Shields: Absolutely. If ryanair, one of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe, reduces its service, it could lead to fewer options and higher prices for consumers. This situation could particularly affect leisure travelers who rely on low-cost carriers for affordable travel.
Time.news Editor: In his comments, O’Leary expressed skepticism that the next federal government in Germany would enact positive changes. Do you share his outlook on the political climate there?
Dr. Emma Shields: While my focus is on the industry rather than politics, there is certainly a palpable frustration among business leaders regarding governmental red tape and taxes. If the incoming government fails to address these issues, it could perpetuate a stagnant environment for growth in the aviation sector.
Time.news Editor: O’leary’s comments can certainly stir the pot, but do you think they’re effective in driving actual change in policy?
Dr.Emma Shields: It really depends on the response it provokes. Outrage like this can attract media attention and put pressure on policymakers. However, sustainable change often requires constructive dialog and collaboration, which is sometimes at odds with O’Leary’s approach.
Time.news Editor: with Ryanair’s reliance on low-cost models, how should governments like Germany’s approach the tax situation to ensure both business viability and public interest?
Dr. Emma Shields: It’s a balancing act. Policymakers need to consider the economic benefits of a thriving airline industry while also addressing the need for sustainable practices. Exploring options like incentivizing lower emissions or reducing certain taxes temporarily could foster growth without sacrificing environmental responsibilities.
time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Shields. Your insights provide a great deal of clarity on this complex issue. we’ll keep an eye on how this situation develops. Until next time!