Ryanair has been making headlines with their campaign against cycling and the Irish Greens online. Using the hashtag #flightsnotbikes, the airline has been targeting the Green Party and their transport policy on social media. The news magazine “Der Spiegel” was the first to report on the situation.
The focal point of the controversy is Eamon Ryan, the Green climate and transport minister. After winning re-election, he announced that he would be stepping down as leader of his party and not running in the next election. Ryanair took issue with this decision and posted a picture of Catherine Martin, the party’s deputy leader, with a request not to “recycle green waste.”
The disagreement also centers around a cap on air traffic at Dublin Airport. The limit allows for a maximum of 32 million passenger movements per year, which was almost reached last year with 31.9 million. Airlines are concerned that they won’t be able to meet demand for seats this year due to higher ticket prices.
The rule was put in place in 2007 as part of requirements for terminal expansion by the local planning authority. The airport operator has applied to increase the limit, but the process is still ongoing. Ryanair accuses Eamon Ryan of not pushing authorities quickly enough to lift it without lengthy reviews, stating that Dublin is the only airport in Europe with such a cap.
Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, is known for his bold statements and aggressive campaigns against various groups
