Michael O'Leary at the Innovation Convention 2011 - Brussels

[@videoreff]

My former job lasted 4 years during which time I developed a Europe-wide contract with a major company. We started in the U.K. plus 2 other countries, we ended up in 12 countries, signing a 5-year rolling contract in excess of €20m. My job wouldn't have existed without Ryanair.

[@woodsgift]

Michael O' Leary is one of the worlds most passionate entrepreneurs - I love his analogies....

[@EinkOLED]

It doesn't make sense that ryanair makes it possible to fly to italy for £30 return while a train ticket to London costs £60. If it doesn't have wings and a Gold Harp on the tail then I aint going. Micheal 'O' leary you deserve a Nobel prize for changing the way people commute and offering greater freedom for the poor.

[@Phoebekeely]

He's brilliant. We'd all be a lot more grounded without him.

[@GOPsithlord]

As an American who despises flying in the not-so-friendly, cattle car like skies of Ryan Air, I have only one thing to say to Michael O'Leary: He's right. No matter how many scratch cards they try to throw at me, no matter how bad the food is, I will fly his airline, b/c despite all the hassle of actually flying his airline, that price is a dominant driver in airfare is a simple statement of fact for budget consumers like myself. So, here's two cheers for Mr. O'Leary.

[@mangoditreviso]

Michael O'Leary is a guru! I love this guy and agree with every of his words. Well done Michael!

[@beingatliberty]

Michael O'Leary has his issues, but he has done what he said he'd do, which is to lower the cost of air travel, when you get a reasonable cost flight somewhere via ryanair, it can be awkward sometimes getting on and off, but its worth it for the fare.

[@zarasheerin]

Love this man - someone make him Taoiseach quick!

[@kathal34]

Excellent service, we also depend on Ryanair for our business. Such a shame that airports like Charleroi and Luton are incapable of managing the swathes of captive customers that he brings them!

[@chris-non-voter]

I love this guy.

[@FRplane]

Ryanair fly no further than about 4 and a half hours. If you can stop yourself from drinking alcoholic beverages for that length of time then you'll find that Ryanair in fact have the best customer service of all airlines in Europe. Their customer service is based on what you need instead of what you want. People say "Oh it's ridiculous that Ryanair charge extra for bags" but no complaints when you pay a high fare, get delayed and are more likely to lose a bag in return for a free drink!!!

[@lordkered]

I hate this BS and people whining over the hidden costs. All the cheap flight sites have a Total Cost at the end of an application, if you don't like it go somewhere else. I also think that people should realy respect and be proud of O'Leary, if he hadn't existed you would still be paying double or triple what you pay now for your flights. This man and the competition he has introduced to flight pricing is actually saving you hundreds a year. So quit moaning over the "hidden" €5/€10 charges.

[@wizmindfire]

This guy is straight out of Atlas Shrugged. Notice, that this means he's doing well, the customers have more of their own cash in their own pockets. True capitalism and free market action at work: win-win-lose. Who loses? The bureaucrats who want to control every aspect of your lives.

[@dianesanson1]

I am amazed they let him speak! Bet he does not get asked again

[@somercet1]

Be still, O my trembling heart.....

[@DaBriars]

Michael O Leary & Richard Branson would make a great team running the UK !

[@pastelky]

In your face, Brussels !!

[@shawn92101]

I would love to work for this company? Do you have international routes to Florida US?

[@brendanharding6015]

You gottta love Ryanair - despite all arguments you here to the contrary.

[@Cinnamonbuns13]

an early finish? what does he mean by that?

[@2009ELTEX]

I would have thought it was typically Irish, especially with his humour, boldness and inability to take a breath in between sentences. Rebel and showmanship definitely flow through him. Though, he does wave his hands a lot..

[@TheXhoust]

I'm very proud to work for his company :)

[@cheesehoven]

Who is John Galt? Michael O'Learyl

[@t0pz87]

@pwwatson8888 That's your choice, though most people, in the end, don't fly for the comfort, they fly for getting from A to B. Either way, paying 10 times as much just to have a more comfortable seat and extra perks inside the flight is not worth it. And the majority won't pay for it on short to mid-distance flights.

[@markphillips4425]

@shawn92101 They only fly within Europe right now. You never know about what they might do in the future though!

[@crazypants88]

Let free markets work...

[@Radiotree]

Well done sir.

[@youngian]

As the European Commission is responsible for airways deregulation O'Leary would do well to learn a bit of diplomacy. Good speech all the same.

[@osullivandaniel]

6 dislikes? Looks like 6 politicians woke up from there naps!!!

[@eenkmouse2311]

John Galt Lives!!! Shrug, baby, shrug!

[@qornothing59]

This guy rocks!

[@vonGleichenT]

He speaks the truth right on in front of the devil.

[@IggySpolsky]

❤

[@4WallsNoWindows]

liked at 2:33 for the star wars reference!

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

I'd hate to have to work for him though...

[@amsteixeira]

@abatonime But a bus costs 13€ and takes you there in 40m, not much longer than Zaventem do the city center... :)

[@munkifisht]

@brianrallen Many airlines have an outstanding safety record, and most are far older than Ryanair. What you don't know is that many of Ryanairs engines were retrofitted with silencers as they were so old they contravened environmental regulations. Also there are serious questions about the quality of repairs carried out on Ryanair planes and the subcontractors are put under serious pressure to increase turn around times and declare planes safe to fly. Source: DAA ground staff

[@ndillon18]

5:57 Dagny?

[@kered13]

The Wright brothers first flew in 1903, not 1912.

[@albula642]

Orville and Wilbur Wright first flew 1903. not 1912 03:02

[@sennetor]

Typical Ryanair style. Starts his introduction BEFORE he gets to the podium.

[@t0pz87]

As much as i like his speech, "no fuel surcharges" is about the only thing that ryanair doesnt have. Therefore it has hidden costs and extra surcharges everywhere else.

[@nnlamb25]

@2Phast4Rocket I think it's funny he would even say that. He's basically saying "well, the government lets you own a private business. So your welcome". I mean really?

[@back2backband1]

Ryanair is awesome!

[@frtimop]

And now he's campaigning to persuade UK subjects to vote to remain in the EU...

[@empirix]

lol - his got balls, he speaks the truth too. Epic :)

[@allclassics]

Of Irish common sense and no malarkey

[@CmonMan101]

Needs some Batman-like bubbles added saying things like SMASH! - KA-POW!! - CRUNCH! every time he slams the politicians. Of course, like most things, it could also use more cowbell.

[@JoWetter]

It's Steve Jobs-level on this presentation. :)

[@MrNoobidoobidoo]

This person has charisma

[@kslavvko]

This guy is awesome :)

[@Wizardess]

The EU is safe as long as Alexandrov doesn't go off and visit North Carolina or Texas for far more business friendly environments than Taxifornia and its EU sort of socialism. {^_-}

[@michaelahern6821]

Great businessman and his airlines' not as bad as it seems but would HATE to work for him i mean you can't even charge your phone in the office thats a bit over the top.

[@NathanJosephCole]

@pwwatson8888 have fun being poor, spending all your money on airfare.

[@KristofferTrolle]

Lol, so true!

[@steven8hamilton]

Love the cheap fares Ryanair produces Hate the EU

[@n8w1ng96]

:))) owned

[@2Phast4Rocket]

@pwwatson8888 Mike Oleary welcomes you to fly another airliner. That's capitalism. Good service costs money if you are willing to pay for it.

[@rmm2000]

And they have the crappest service...

[@HotSo0P]

I almost can't believe this is real!

[@oldirtymick]

@pwwatson8888 Your response to this video is pointless, if you want to moan about Ryanair services go to a forum. Maybe if you re-watch this you will realise that they got rid of 'comforts' and replaced them with cheap fares.

[@lespaul06320]

This man is brilliant ! I m glad to work for him !

[@BenMolen]

Steve Jobs changed the computer industry. Michael O'leary changed the airline industry.

[@2Phast4Rocket]

The smugness of the host in response to Mike Oleary presentation on airline deregulation is very telling. He said if not for the EU to deregulate, Ryan Air wouldn't have existed. In Brussels and all eurocrats minds, they do a favor to businesses. Business exists because of their governmental intervention. That doesn't explain why Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France cannot beat air fare offered by Ryan Air.

[@xlr81]

A legend who says it like it is, a true inspiration to me!!

[@nnlamb25]

@pwwatson8888 So how much has that cost you? Obviously you can afford to fly 45 times a year at £500 a flight. If you can afford more, and you want it, then great! That's why capitalism is so great! You get what you want! I want a cheap flight, even if that means cheap seats. I would rather spend £99 for an hour on a bus then £500 for an hour on a luxury bus...

[@rubenximenes]

@pwwatson8888 Point being? If you don't like them, don't use their service. Freedom of choice, power to the consumer, more options to everybody. It's not like O'Leary is trying to force you into flying with them. On the contrary, it's the "big-ticket" national airlines which are heavily subsidized that force every taxpayer in that country to "fly" with them (e.g. TAP here in Portugal, which receives hundreds of millions of euros every year in state subsidies).

[@theurbanglow1]

Horrible man! No wonder the EU criticise this man he treats his customers like something he's trodden in! Ryanair is okay when things go well but if anything, anything goes wrong they will disregard their customers and charge them extortionate amounts to get home! Get lost O'Leary you're talking crap!

[@pwwatson8888]

Ryanair customer service is crap. You try and call Ryanair and get someone to answer the phone; good luck. I have flown 45 times this year and will never use Ryanair. The seats are uncomfortable and the crew which is supposed to be trained in safety procedures, aren't.

[@Alpenmilch01]

it is trendy to dislike european bureacrats in brussels. Many people don't know even why. This man has formulated it for them.

[@MMister87]

Omigosh! Has this really happened? Is he still alive?

[@rommeldebommel0000]

@abatonime indeed, starting price is €24,-

[@glowpunk]

@henrycate Irish born and bred.

[@alanwilletts7371]

Great. And its all true

[@Micker375]

Michael is a legend - end of.

[@jafergie07]

Fantastic.

[@LaurynasRagaisis]

16:57 LOL

[@Esss333]

70 euros for 20kg luggage... lowering prices all over Europe indeed

[@woot123sexyparty]

@munkifisht And how many flights do Ryanair operate every year? I would say they've run far more flights than most in their relatively short life, and they've never had a maintainance related issue. Their average fleet age is 3.6 years. BA's is approximately 12. Perhaps if your DAA friends would like a trip across the sea to check out some of BA's lovely 737s (19, average age 19.3 years), 747s (52, average age 17 years) or 767s (21, average age 18.7 years).

[@altbust]

Pretty ungrateful of him to slam the EU after he was invited as a speaker. A bit more humility goes a long way mr. O Leary.