Now here’s a surprise. Outspoken Irish entrepreneur Michael O'Leary of Ryanair has publically apologised “unreservedly” to his arch rival, easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.Earlier this year, O’Leary ran a series of ads depicting Sir Stelios as Pinocchio with the words: “easyJet’s – Mr Late Again,” telling Sir Stelios to “stop hiding the truth” about flight delays, saying easyJet should resume publishing weekly details of on-time performance.
When Sir Stelios initially requested an apology, O’Leary was defiant; making a host of ridiculous gibes. So Stelios decided to take legal action.
The libel suit was settled out of court, with O’Leary issuing a public apology this week in the Guardian and Daily Telegraph. Sir Stelios accepted £50,100 in damages, which he will donate to his philanthropic foundation and will be used for the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs. “It is not very often that someone as arrogant and as powerful as O'Leary is forced to apologise in public and in writing,” says Sir Stelios. "I took this legal action to protect my reputation. I am not a liar and that statement was libellous.” He dedicated the victory to all those "who have suffered verbal abuse at the hands of O'Leary”.
“Boys will be boys!” Said APA DG, Gareth Osborne, “But I really think we should keep childish playground rivalries out of a serious business like aviation. What next? Aerial dogfights.”
APA
3 comments:
Important post Gareth.
I for one would like the CEO's of the airlines I fly with to be serious operators focussed on safety and value for money not immature gamesmanship.
Peter Marks
Thanks Peter,
I agree wholeheartedly. I flew back from Brussels late one night to find all the ground technicians dressed as clowns and larking about around the aircraft and with passengers as they boarded. Soon after take off the pilot pushed the nose forward, never a good sign, and throttled back to stayed at 1000 ft. The weather was bad and the ride was bumpy. The Captain eventually reported that the undercarriage had not retracted and we would have to circle and, after checking it out, land back at Brux; he issued a warning that the undercarriage could cause problems on landing. After a tortuous 15-mins we landed [safely] to be told later that the techies had forgotten to remove the ground locking pins on the undercarriage.
You should never prat around with aircraft.
My PA, who was with me and just a little worried, gave them a mercilessly tough time afterwards.
PS. It might just have been one of the airline involved in this debate - or at least I tink it was!
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