In a mixed week for Ireland-based budget airline, Ryanair, it reported year-on-year growth for the month of May, but clashed publicly with a disgruntled singing star.
Ryanair’s total passenger figure for May, 7.86 million, was 350,000 higher than for the same month last year, and represented a 5 percent year-on-year increase. The total passenger figure for the year to May was a record for the company at 79.8 million, a 4 percent increase on the figure for the previous year.
In a statement, a spokesman for the company said, ‘Ryanair’s traffic increased by 5 percent over May 2012 and our load factor rose by 1 percent, as we enjoyed a record 12-month period with almost 80 million passengers choosing one of our ultra-low fares since May 2012, a rise of 4 percent.’
Meanwhile, a battle broke out between Ryanair and Brian McFadden, the former Westlife singing star, who took exception to being presented with a charge of £70 for printing his boarding pass at Liverpool airport and £80 for exceeding Ryanair’s baggage weight limit by 4kgs. Refusing to pay the charge and opting instead to take the train to London and an alternative flight to a golfing holiday in Spain, Mcfadden took to the social network, Twitter, with one of his messages reading, ‘had so much i wanted to say about my ryanair experience today but will keep it simple. MICHAEL O LEARY (sic) you’re a scumbag who exploits.’
In response, Ryanair’s Robin Kiely contacted the Daily Mail’s MailOnline Travel, saying, ‘We’re surprised that Mr McFadden, having agreed to print his boarding card, couldn’t manage this super-complex task, which is accomplished daily by over 80m passengers annually.’
