Travel

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary promoted to CEO of airline group amid pilot strikes and job cuts


OUTSPOKEN Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has been promoted to CEO of the Ryanair Group, which also includes the Laudamotion and Buzz brands.

The news comes as the airline’s pilots and cabin crew are set to walk out this week over pay and job cuts.

 Ryanair's Michael O'Leary has been in charge of the airline since 1994

3

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary has been in charge of the airline since 1994Credit: Reuters

In his place, Ryanair has appointed veteran executive Eddie Wilson as chief executive of Ryanair’s main airlines business – but he will report to Michael O’Leary who will become CEO of the Ryanair Group.

Eddie, who has worked at Ryanair for 22 years, has been in charge of negotiations with unions for the past two years as chief people officer.

He will take over from September 1, Michael said in a note to staff – the day that the airline’s Spanish staff are planning to start striking over job cuts.

The note said: “Eddie will report directly to me as Group CEO and will join my weekly meeting, which will be attended by the Chief Executives of Ryanair DAC, Buzz, Laudamotion and Malta Air.”

 A memo was sent round to staff

3

A memo was sent round to staffCredit: Ryanair
 Eddie Wilson will be taking over as CEO

3

Eddie Wilson will be taking over as CEOCredit: Reuters

He said he would hand over the running of Ryanair DAC’s weekly management meeting to Eddie during a three-month transition period.

Ryanair DAC operates most of Ryanair’s fleet of more than 475 jets.

Eddie’s appointment comes just weeks after O’Leary’s July announcement that Chief Operations Officer Peter Bellew would step down at the end of the year. Some observers had seen Peter, a former CEO of Malaysia Airlines, as a possible future Ryanair chief executive.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary announces 900 job losses

Ryanair has been moving to a structure similar to that of British Airways-owner IAG – by operating an increasing number of subsidiaries.

Ryanair Holdings plc, Europe’s largest low-cost airline group, is the parent company of Poland’s Buzz, Austria’s Lauda, Malta Air and Dublin-based Ryanair DAC, which Eddie will lead.

Wilson takes over as Ryanair grapples with a wave of industrial action from unions in the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, but the impact on flights has so far been minimal.

The group carries more than 152 million passengers a year on more than 2,400 daily flights.

Sun Online Travel has contacted Ryanair for comment.





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.