Michael O'Leary (61 page)

I also stretched to breaking point the patience of my publisher at Penguin Ireland, Michael McLoughlin, with my disregard for deadlines and publication dates. The trouble with Ryanair and Michael O'Leary is that they never pause for breath, and there is never a natural end point for a book about a business that refuses to stop growing, changing and surprising.

My thanks too to Natasha Fairweather, my agent at AP Watt, who managed to retain her sense of humour throughout this project and whose enthusiasm never dimmed.

Many, many people have helped me along the way, providing insight (and prejudice) both on and off the record. They will recognize their contributions.

Tony Ryan kindly provided me with his original business plans for Irelandia, the project that emerged a few years later as Ryanair. Without his determination and willingness to risk his personal fortune on a dream, there would be no Ryanair, and no book.

As the epigraph suggests, Michael O'Leary had no interest in this book. I have, however, interviewed him on a number of occasions for newspapers and magazines, and have drawn extensively from those interviews.

And finally my apologies to my family, who have endured the
frustrations of the process, and who have waited with decreasing patience for me to finish so that I could honour my initial promise: that, once finished, I would give up smoking.

– Alan Ruddock

*
Ryanair switched to reporting in euros when the new currency was introduced in 2002.

Aberdeen Angus cattle
157
,
274

advertising
141–2
,
146–7
,
237
,
238
,
250–52
,
259

Aer Arann
23–4
,
232

Aer Lingus

and GPA
17

Tony Ryan and
19

and competition
22–3
,
24
,
25–6
,
27–8
,
29
,
30

in 1980s
26–7

Dublin–London service
39

competing with Ryanair
43–4
,
52
,
53
,
65

oppose Ryanair's proposed services
40
,
41
,
42

operations from Manchester
52–3

O'Neill sues
56–7

and changes in government policy
65–8
,
69–72

battling with Ryanair again
78–9

and GPA flotation
94
,
105
,
107

offer to buy Ryanair
105–7

worst year ever
107–8

state aid
108–111
,
115–17
,
205–6

website
226

pilots
232

drop Stansted service
239

financial problems
239–40

effects of 9/11
284

Dublin–Edinburgh service
292

best value award
335

Willie Walsh and
373–83

Ryanair assault on
3
94–6

partial sale of
403–6
,
407
,
408

Ryanair acquires stake in
408–13

Aer Lingus Express
108
,
205

Aer Rianta

extension plans for Dublin airport
134

and Ryanair
135–6

and baggage handlers dispute
187
,
188
,
204

charges at Dublin airport
195
,
196

Ryanair rebates from
203

charges dispute at Dublin airport
210–13
214
,
216
,
218–19
,
247–8

and MO'L proposals for new Dublin terminal
221–2
,
236
,
237–8

and Shannon airport
235–6

MO'L attacks on
256
,
344

sue Ryanair
261–2

and independent airport regulator
279

proposed extension at Dublin airport
280

complaint about Ryanair to Competition Authority
293–4

and low-cost facility at Dublin airport
290
,
297

continuing disputes with MO'L
291
,
335
,
336–8

break-up of
338–9

Ahern, Bertie
69

and airline policy in 1989
69

and baggage handlers dispute
188
,
189
,
197

MO'L and
297

Mara and
298

and Mary O'Rourke
304–5

self-proclaimed socialism
373

and Aer Lingus
373
,
378
,
379
,
379–81
,
382
,
383–4
,
405
,
408

and Dublin airport
388
,
389

AirAsia
370

Air Berlin
403
,
417

Air Canada and GPA
17
,
94

Air Deccan

Air France
40
,
216
,
312
,
339
,
412

Air UK
131

Airbus
176
,
191
,
285–7
,
294–6

Airbus A320 jets
90

aircraft

Ryanair fleet
90
,
117–18
,
147
,
174
,
176–7
,
190–92
,
216–17
,
253

turnaround time
87
,
87–8
,
178
,
223–4

airfares

beginning of low
28–32
,
86
,
88

Ryanair and low
88–90
,
240–41
,
245–6
,
248

price controls
100–101

airline industry 1980s
25

European deregulation
52
,
99–101

cabotage and
130
,
175

European mergers
254
,
256

9/11 and
283–5
,
287

Open Skies
376
,
377

and London bombings
389–90

oil prices
390–91
,
403

environmental issues and
416

airport charges

Dublin
135
,
136
,
195
,
207–8
,
210–13
,
218–19

Kerry
217–18
,
232–5

Manchester
219–20

Alitalia
215
,
284

American Airlines
284

Amsterdam, services to
39
,
40

Ancona airport
214
,
277

ASAs (Advertising Standards Authorities)
237
,
238
,
251–2

ATGWU
172

ATR
42
90

Avair
22–3

Ayling, Bob
255

BA
see
British Airways

BAA
see
British Airports Authority

BAC One-Eleven jets
90

baggage, charging for
391
,
392
,
418

baggage handlers dispute at Dublin airport
172–3
,
178–80
,
182–3
,
185–90
,
203–5

Baldonnel, plans for airport at
133–4
,
220–21

Baldwin, Caroline
215

Banotti, Mary
184

Barrable, Barry
176

Barrett, Sean
30–31

Beauvais airport
148
,
149
,
161
,
259–60

Beckett, John
228–30
,
247

Bell, Brian
83
,
150

Bellew, Peter

and Ryanair Holidays
72–3

marketing manager at Kerry airport
149–50
,
217
,
233
,
234–5
,
326–7

Berger, Bernard
90–91
,
121
,
317

Bergin, Rita
256

Big Brother
252

Bisignani, Giovanni
390

Blair, Captain Charles
23–4

Blair, Tony
281

Blaney, Paddy
140

Blue Skies
178

Boeing
176–7
,
190–91
,
285–7
,
294–7
,
366–71

Boeing 737 jets

Southwest Airlines
87

Ryanair
117–18
,
147
,
191
,
216
,
253
,
296

easyJet
254

800 series
295

forward airstairs
368

Bonderman, David

investment in Ryanair
140–41
,
142
,
144

chairman of Ryanair
151

and London flotation
200–201
,
201–2

sells shares in Ryanair
218
,
219

and Ryanair stake in Aer Lingus
408
,
409

Brady, Conor
221

Brady, Warwick

Branson, Richard
114–15
,
208

Brazil, Tony
108

Brennan, P.J.
158

Brennan, Seamus

minister of transport
65–6
,
67–70
,
72
,
99

opposition transport spokesman
135

minister of transport again
305–6
,
308–10
,
336
,
338
,
339

and MO'L and taxi
342

and cabinet reshuffle
371
,
381

on Aer Lingus
384

Bright, Toby
296
,
370

Brit Air
312
,
339

British Airports Authority (BAA)
64–5
,
406

British Airways (BA)

in 1980s
25
,
60

Dublin–London route
39

pulling out of Irish routes
77–8

and London-Scotland route
131

franchise partners
138

negotiations to buy stake in Ryanair
138–9

low-cost operator
178
,
201
,
208
,
254
,
255
,
291–2
,
294

merger talks with KLM
254
,
256

sue Ryanair
260–61

effects of 9/11
284

fuel surcharges
390–91

British Midland
114
,
130–31

Brosnan, Denis
150

Brown, John
346

Buckley, Chris
191
,
286
,
294

Burke, John
211
,
212

Buzz
254
,
256
,
321–5
,
329

Byrne, Brian J.
261–2

cabotage
130
,
175

Cahill, Bernie
105–8
,
115
,
375

Callaghan, Jim
317
,
319

carbon emissions
415
-
16

Carcassonne airport
198–9

cargo services
175

Cassani, Barbara
201
,
255
,
291–2
,
294

Cassidy, Donie
2
,
305

Castlepollard, Westmeath
9

catering department, Ryanair
77

Catholic Church
250–51

Cawley, Michael

chief financial officer Ryanair
177–8

interview after Labour Court report
204–5

and Ryanair deal with Hertz
209

and setting up website
229

and Kerry airport
233
,
234

and Rimini airport
276–7

and communications
310

promotion
316
,
317
,
320

at Monday meetings
319

possible successor to MO'L
365
,
418

press conference at Dublin airport
385
,
386

and Cork airport
402–3

Channel 4 documentary on Ryanair
397–8
,
399–400

Chapman, Phil
125

Charleroi airport
148

and new Ryanair services
149
,
161

Ryanair European base
270–72
,
287–8

European Commission investigation
312–16
,
354–60

new deal with Ryanair
394

Chatty, Kerim Sadok
308

Cheltenham Festival 2006
400–402

Christian Brothers school, Mullingar
3

Cityjet
114–15

Clifton, Charlie
42
,
43
,
77
,
118
,
142
,
169
,
317

Clongowes Wood College
7–8
,
10–12

Club Travel
28–9

Clune, Flan
256

Collins, Andrew
332

Collins, Liam
348–9

Competition Authority, Irish
159
,
293–4

Connolly, Gerry
22–3
,
81

Continental
284

Conway, Ray
317
,
318