When the airline becomes a political factor: Ryanair shows how big its influence is in Europe

Is O'Leary rude to the Spanish minister? It's almost irrelevant. A much more important question is: How did a private airline become so...

Photo: Ryanair screenshot

Author  Goran Rihelj

27. August 2026.
Was O'Leary rude to the Spanish minister? That's almost irrelevant. The more important question is: How did a private airline become so big that its decision on where to base several aircraft can become a matter of regional development, tourism, employment, tax policy and ultimately political accountability? Michael O'Leary has done what he does best again...
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Author  Goran Rihelj

27. August 2026.