Menu
12/10/2009
Ryanair Slams BBC 'Hatchet Job'
Michael O'Leary has branded a BBC documentary featuring practices at Ryanair a "hatchet job".
The BBC Panorama show, which is due to be aired tonight on BBC One, is believed to have investigated why Ryanair is surviving the recession, the company's business model, along with owner Michael O'Leary's unconventional PR tactics.
The show has however caused a major bust up with Mr O'Leary over allegations within tonight's programme that he has in the past referred to his staff as "lemons".
Mr O'Leary has since published 25 pages of e-mail correspondence with the programmes makers on its website.
Responding ahead of tonight's broadcast, the Ryanair chief said: "BBC Panorama know that they have no case in this 'Hatchet Job' programme.
"We have already rubbished their false claims about hidden charges and an agreement with Airbus.
"It is a pity that Panorama, with all their resources, investigative journalists and the power of the BBC, were not honest enough to agree to a 'live' or an unedited interview with Ryanair, which would have provided Panorama's viewers with 'balance and facts', instead of Panorama's 'false claims and fiction'.
"These clowns even wasted licence payers money flying to Dublin on high fare, frequently delayed, BMI, instead of flying with….Ryanair."
Ryanair said that two of the programme's main claims that Ryanair has "hidden charges" and that Ryanair reached an agreement with Airbus in 2001, have both been "proven to be false".
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said all Panorama were presenting was "a series of subjective claims from a tiny number a number of disgruntled former employees and alleged passengers, none of which have been substantiated".
The published correspondance contains a number of frank and heated exchanges from the airline, accusing reporter Vivian White of biased and misleading claims.
Also in the correspondence, Mr O'Leary and spokesman Stephen McNamara frequently deny an accusation that Ryanair had reached an agreement with Airbus at a meeting in Toulouse in 2002 over an order for Airbus planes before later breaking the agreement.
(DW/BMcC)
The BBC Panorama show, which is due to be aired tonight on BBC One, is believed to have investigated why Ryanair is surviving the recession, the company's business model, along with owner Michael O'Leary's unconventional PR tactics.
The show has however caused a major bust up with Mr O'Leary over allegations within tonight's programme that he has in the past referred to his staff as "lemons".
Mr O'Leary has since published 25 pages of e-mail correspondence with the programmes makers on its website.
Responding ahead of tonight's broadcast, the Ryanair chief said: "BBC Panorama know that they have no case in this 'Hatchet Job' programme.
"We have already rubbished their false claims about hidden charges and an agreement with Airbus.
"It is a pity that Panorama, with all their resources, investigative journalists and the power of the BBC, were not honest enough to agree to a 'live' or an unedited interview with Ryanair, which would have provided Panorama's viewers with 'balance and facts', instead of Panorama's 'false claims and fiction'.
"These clowns even wasted licence payers money flying to Dublin on high fare, frequently delayed, BMI, instead of flying with….Ryanair."
Ryanair said that two of the programme's main claims that Ryanair has "hidden charges" and that Ryanair reached an agreement with Airbus in 2001, have both been "proven to be false".
Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said all Panorama were presenting was "a series of subjective claims from a tiny number a number of disgruntled former employees and alleged passengers, none of which have been substantiated".
The published correspondance contains a number of frank and heated exchanges from the airline, accusing reporter Vivian White of biased and misleading claims.
Also in the correspondence, Mr O'Leary and spokesman Stephen McNamara frequently deny an accusation that Ryanair had reached an agreement with Airbus at a meeting in Toulouse in 2002 over an order for Airbus planes before later breaking the agreement.
(DW/BMcC)
Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 February 2005
Ryanair's $4bn investment promises 2,500 new jobs
Irish-owned low cost airline Ryanair has announced placing an order for a 140 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft. The $4 billion investment involves a firm order for 70 new aircraft and will result in the eventual creation of more than 2,500 jobs, principally for pilots, cabin crew and engineering staff.
Ryanair's $4bn investment promises 2,500 new jobs
Irish-owned low cost airline Ryanair has announced placing an order for a 140 Boeing 737-800 series aircraft. The $4 billion investment involves a firm order for 70 new aircraft and will result in the eventual creation of more than 2,500 jobs, principally for pilots, cabin crew and engineering staff.
05 January 2010
OFT 'Wrong' Over Ryanair Criticism
Irish budget airline Ryanair has attacked a British fair trading watchdog which said that its payment policy was "puerile and childish".
OFT 'Wrong' Over Ryanair Criticism
Irish budget airline Ryanair has attacked a British fair trading watchdog which said that its payment policy was "puerile and childish".
13 March 2002
Ryanair responds to criticism over "misleading" adverts
Low-cost airline Ryanair has come under criticism for allegedly misleading customers as to how close they land to the cities their flights claim to serve. A recent report by the consumer magazine Holiday Which? revealed that on a number of routes, Ryanair does not actually land at the major airports of numerous cities.
Ryanair responds to criticism over "misleading" adverts
Low-cost airline Ryanair has come under criticism for allegedly misleading customers as to how close they land to the cities their flights claim to serve. A recent report by the consumer magazine Holiday Which? revealed that on a number of routes, Ryanair does not actually land at the major airports of numerous cities.
28 October 2008
Tax Hit On 'Budget Airline' At Shannon May Boost NI
The Irish Government's controversial airport tax has led budget airline, Ryanair, to cut its passenger numbers - and job opportunities - through Shannon Airport from two million to a mere 750,000 - and to further rekindle existing interest in expanding its services at Northern Ireland airports.
Tax Hit On 'Budget Airline' At Shannon May Boost NI
The Irish Government's controversial airport tax has led budget airline, Ryanair, to cut its passenger numbers - and job opportunities - through Shannon Airport from two million to a mere 750,000 - and to further rekindle existing interest in expanding its services at Northern Ireland airports.
07 October 2011
BBC Proposals Will Slash Jobs
Strike action could affect the BBC before Christmas unless the BBC changes its approach to negotiation, BECTU warned today. The independent trade union, for those working in broadcasting, said the BBC's plan to axe 2000 jobs at the same time as promising to deliver quality will not succeed.
BBC Proposals Will Slash Jobs
Strike action could affect the BBC before Christmas unless the BBC changes its approach to negotiation, BECTU warned today. The independent trade union, for those working in broadcasting, said the BBC's plan to axe 2000 jobs at the same time as promising to deliver quality will not succeed.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
